Langerhans' cell histiocytosis: report of three cases with unusual oral soft tissue involvement.

Three cases of Langerhans' cell histiocytosis (histiocytosis X) are reported in which the clinical presentations were (1) soft-tissue enlargements, (2) oral ulcerations, and (3) leukoplakia. Each case was without bone involvement at the time of diagnosis, and two patients were older than 60 years of age. Definitive diagnoses were aided with the use of immunohistochemistry.

Squamous carcinoma arising from a dentigerous cyst: report of a case.

A case of squamous carcinoma arising in the lining of a dentigerous cyst is presented. This case is interesting because, clinically and radiographically, the diagnosis was unexpected. The light-microscopy examination revealed the moderately well-differentiated squamous carcinoma. The presentations of the case are discussed.

Tyrosine-rich crystalloids in a fine needle aspirate of a polymorphous low grade adenocarcinoma of a minor salivary gland. A case report.

Tyrosine-rich crystalloids were identified in a fine needle aspirate of a polymorphous low grade adenocarcinoma of a minor salivary gland. Such crystalloids have been described previously as occurring in tissue sections of both benign and malignant salivary gland neoplasms and in the fine needle aspirate of a pleomorphic adenoma. Their presence either in fine needle aspirates or tissue sections of salivary gland tumors should be interpreted only as an incidental and nonspecific finding and should not be used to support either a benign or malignant diagnosis.

Adult rhabdomyoma. A light microscopic, ultrastructural, virologic, and immunologic analysis.

Adult rhabdomyoma is a rare benign tumor of skeletal muscle origin that frequently arises from musculature of the head and neck region. In this study we report five cases of adult rhabdomyoma. Light and electron microscopic examination revealed the typical cellular features as described by others. The results of immunophenotyping and quantitation of nucleolar organizer regions were consistent for a benign skeletal muscle tumor. Epstein-Barr virus and human papillomavirus genomic DNA could not be detected by in situ hybridization.

Oral mucosal bacillary epithelioid angiomatosis in a patient with AIDS associated with rapid alveolar bone loss: case report.

Oral manifestations of bacillary epithelioid angiomatosis have been described in the literature, but without histopathologic evidence confirming the presence of the etiologic bacilli. The clinical and histopathologic similarities between bacillary epithelioid angiomatosis and Kaposi's sarcoma may have contributed to confusion in diagnosis and treatment of the latter. Furthermore, inclusion of bacillary epithelioid angiomatosis in the differential diagnosis of proliferative vascular lesions may help to clarify the etiology, pathology and epidemiology of these lesions. This article is the first report of the intraoral manifestation of bacillary epithelioid angiomatosis with histopathologic documentation of the causative pathogen.

Survey of tissue diagnostic services in U.S. dental schools - 1990.

Tissue diagnostic services in U.S. dental schools were surveyed to determine activities during 1990. Results were compared with those of similar surveys conducted in 1953, 1958, 1969, 1975, 1980, and 1985. The information gathered from this survey reveals a progressive growth and development of tissue diagnostic services. This is seen not only in the increased numbers of biopsy accessions, which increased by 37% since the last survey, but is also reflected in the diversity of services now offered by oral pathologists.

Quantitative evaluation of Langerhans cells in median rhomboid glossitis.

Langerhans cells (LC) serve as antigen presenting cells and provide immune surveillance within epithelia. Since depression of LC number and/or function may allow tolerance to antigens, we evaluated LC in median rhomboid glossitis (MRG), a condition linked to persistent candidal infection of lingual mucosa. Material included a total of 36 cases of MRG (7 of which did not show PAS + fungi) and 6 controls. LC were identified by their expression of S-100 and HLA-DR antigens and quantified using image analysis. Equal numbers of LC were identified using S-100 + and HLA-DR + markers. The density of LC (cells/mm of basement membrane, mean +/- SD) in both PAS + MRG (2.6 +/- 1.3) and PAS-MRG (3.0 +/- 1.7) was markedly depressed compared with controls (17.2 +/- 6.4), (P less than 0.001). These findings indicate that the LC network is perturbed in MRG, and are consistent with the view that of localized defect in immune surveillance may contribute to persistent fungal infection of the oral mucosa.

Intraoral cytomegalovirus lesion and HIV-associated periodontitis in a patient with acquired immunodeficiency syndrome.

Exposure to cytomegalovirus (CMV) is common in persons infected with the human immunodeficiency virus. Autopsy studies have documented the presence of CMV in multiple organs, but CMV is seldom indicated as the causative agent in specific diseases. Few reports have described localized CMV infection in the oral cavity. This may be due to the occult histopathologic appearance during oral mucosal CMV infections and to a lack of awareness of CMV infection as a potential etiologic agent in nonspecific oral ulcerations and other oral disease entities. This report describes an intraoral ulceration with documented presence of a localized CMV infection in association with human immunodeficiency virus-associated periodontitis in a patient with acquired immunodeficiency syndrome. A causative relationship between these two entities, however, cannot be established or excluded.