Estimation of serum beta-carotene level in patients suffering from oral submucous fibrosis.

INTRODUCTION: Oral submucous fibrosis (OSMF), an insidious disease, has not been widely studied with respect to levels of serum beta-carotene (b-carotene). Hence present study aimed to estimate level of serum beta carotene in patients with OSMF. MATERIAL AND METHODS: 40 subjects (study subjects) with different grades of OSMF and 40 apparently healthy subjects without OSMF (control subjects with age and sex matched as that of study subjects) were screened for serum b-carotene levels employing Sobel and Snow's method. Subjects in both the groups had areca nut or gutkha chewing habit. RESULTS: Study subjects with OSMF showed lower levels of serum b-carotene as compared to control group subjects without OSMF. When the levels were compared between different disease stages, least levels of serum b-carotene were seen in Grade III OSMF subjects, as compared with Grade I and II subjects. Females showed higher levels of serum b-carotene than males in both the groups. Smokers showed depleted levels as compared to non-smokers in both groups. CONCLUSION: b-carotene plays an important role in the pathogenesis of OSMF, and its level decreases with disease progression.

An Unusually Large Irritation Fibroma Associated with Gingiva of Lower Left Posterior Teeth Region.

Fibroma is a benign tumor of oral cavity, with usually the tongue, gingiva, and buccal mucosa being the most common sites. Females are twice more likely to develop fibroma than males. The intraoral fibroma typically is well demarcated; and its size can vary from millimeter to few centimeters. Intraorally the growth is attached to the mucosa by means of a peduncle. Fibroma is generally slow growing, painless, smooth surface lesion and the color is slightly paler than the adjacent healthy tissue. Treatment usually requires total excision and recurrence is rare. Here we present a case of 37-year-old female patient reported to the Department of Oral Medicine and Radiology with the chief complaint of a growth in the lower left posterior teeth region 3 months earlier.

Significance of pre-treatment panoramic radiographic assessmentof edentulous patients-A Survey

Objectives: The present study was undertaken to review the significance of pre-treatment panoramic radiographicassessment of edentulous patients, in the dental patient population of Haryana, India.Study Design: In this study a total of 525 completely edentulous patients were selected randomly. A panoramicradiograph was taken using Panoramic machine (Rotagraph plus) and all the radiographs were evaluated by 2 oralradiology specialists for the following clinically significant radiographic findings: retained root fragments, embeddedteeth, radiolucencies, radiopacities and location of the mental foramen at the crest of the residual alveolarridge. The data were analyzed using the chi square test.Results: A total of 245 radiographic findings were seen in 168 (32%) patients. Out of total 525 cases 16.4% (n=86)patients had submucosal or intrabony root stumps, 4.8% (n=25) had embedded teeth, 2.5% (n=13) had radiolucencies,9.9% (n=52) had radiopacities and 1.7% (n=9) had mental foramen at the crest of the residual alveolar ridge.Conclusion: The results of this study suggest that Routine radiographic examination of completely edentulouspatients is critical before construction of complete denture(AU)

Significance of pre-treatment panoramic radiographic assessment of edentulous patients--a survey.

OBJECTIVES: The present study was undertaken to review the significance of pre-treatment panoramic radiographic assessment of edentulous patients, in the dental patient population of Haryana, India. STUDY DESIGN: In this study a total of 525 completely edentulous patients were selected randomly. A panoramic radiograph was taken using Panoramic machine (Rotagraph plus) and all the radiographs were evaluated by 2 oral radiology specialists for the following clinically significant radiographic findings: retained root fragments, embedded teeth, radiolucencies, radiopacities and location of the mental foramen at the crest of the residual alveolar ridge. The data were analyzed using the chi square test. RESULTS: A total of 245 radiographic findings were seen in 168 (32%) patients. Out of total 525 cases 16.4% (n=86) patients had submucosal or intrabony root stumps, 4.8% (n=25) had embedded teeth, 2.5% (n=13) had radiolucencies, 9.9% (n=52) had radiopacities and 1.7% (n=9) had mental foramen at the crest of the residual alveolar ridge. CONCLUSION: The results of this study suggest that Routine radiographic examination of completely edentulous patients is critical before construction of complete denture.

Hemangiopericytoma associated with multiple keratocystic odontogenic tumors in an adolescent patient: a case report.

Hemangiopericytoma, initially described by Stout and Murray in 1942 (1), is a rare vascular tumor arising from mesenchymal cells with pericytic differentiation. Hemangiopericytomas usually occur in the 5th decade of life and account for 3-5% of all soft tissue sarcomas and 1% of all vascular tumors (2). The tumor usually occurs in the limbs, pelvis, or head and neck region; 15-30% of all hemangiopericytomas occur in the head and neck (2,3). Here we present a case of hemangiopericytoma of the submandibular region with keratocystic odontogenic tumors in an adolescent patient.