Two unusual presentations of cervicofacial actinomycosis and review of the literature.

Cervicofacial actinomycosis is the most common clinical form of actinomycosis. This bacterial infection is rare. Diagnosis is difficult, often it is definitive only after surgical excision of the cervicofacial mass. Personal experience is reported concerning two cases of cervicoactinomycosis. Diagnosis, in both cases, has been based on histological findings, not on clinical symptoms. A review of the literature shows that mainly males are affected by this condition and, in fact, both patients described here are males. Symptoms of acute infection were absent. Both patients denied any history of oromaxillofacial trauma or recent dental extraction or oral manipulations. Imaging techniques--ultrasonography and computerized tomography--were not effective in making the diagnosis, in either of these patients. Furthermore, fine needle aspiration cytology did not provide a definitive diagnosis. Both patients underwent surgical excision of the mass. Penicillin was the drug of choice in post-operative long-term treatment (one month). In one of the two men, intravenous steroids were administered. As in several reports in the literature, the definitive diagnosis was histological and not clinical.

Neoplastic transformation of oral lichen: case report and review of the literature.

Aim of the present investigation was to analyse the possible malignant transformation of oral lichen planus to carcinoma, especially in the atrophic erosive forms and those displaying plaques involving the top of the tongue. A review has been made of the literature, from 1986 to the present day. This search outlines the relationship between oral lichen planus, hepatitis C virus infection, Epstein-Barr virus infection and the importance of periodic follow-up in all patients with oral lichen planus. The case is described of malignant transformation of oral lichen planus to oral cancer in a female presenting asymptomatic hepatitis C virus infection. The clinical history confirms the most important aspects of the relationship between oral lichen planus and oral cancer. Oral lichen planus should be considered as a precancerous lesion, particularly in patients presenting hepatitis C virus infection, requiring follow-up, at close intervals, starting from 3 months after diagnosis.

[Coexistence of Kaposi's sarcoma and immunoblastic lymphoma. Description of a case]. / Coesistenza di sarcoma di Kaposi e linfoma immunoblastico. Descrizione di un caso.

A case of a patient suffering from Kaposi's sarcoma and Immunoblastic Lymphoma is described. It is emphasized that this association appears to be more than coincidental and the probability of related etiopathogenic mechanisms between the two neoplasms is suggested.

[Systemic mastocytosis without skin involvement. Presentation of a case and review of the literature]. / Mastocitosi sistemica senza interessamento cutaneo. Presentazione di un caso e revisione della letteratura.

A case of SMCD without apparent cutaneous involvement is described. It has however been possible to demonstrate, by a test of cutaneous biopsy at the optical and electron microscope, an increased number of aberrant mast cells, together with a cutaneous melanosis due to the intense melanin deposit. The meaning of this association is unknown and never previously notified in the literature.