The expression of chemokines CCL19, CCL21 and their receptor CCR7 in oral squamous cell carcinoma and its relevance to cervical lymph node metastasis.

The purpose of this study is to determine the expression of CCL19, CCL21, and CCR7 in samples of oral squamous cell carcinoma (OSCC) and their relationship with clinical and microscopic parameters. A comparative analysis was made of the mRNA expression of these chemokines and receptor in OSCC and normal oral mucosa. The immunoexpression of CCR7, CCL19, and CCL21 was also verified in OSCC and lymph nodes. Statistical significance was accepted at P < 0.05. Similar levels of CCR7, CCL19, and CCL21 mRNA in OSCC and normal oral mucosa were seen. A low expression of CCL19 and CCL21 in the intra- and peritumoral regions was observed. Scarce CCL19(+) and CCL21(+) cells were also noted in metastatic and non-metastatic lymph nodes. No association was found between the expression of these chemokines and clinical and microscopic parameters. Our findings would suggest that CCL19 and CCL21 may not be associated with cervical lymph node metastasis or other clinical and microscopic factors in OSCC.

Chondrosarcoma of the temporomandibular joint: a case report in a child.

This article reports a rare case of a temporomandibular joint (TMJ) chondrosarcoma in a child. Chondrosarcoma is a malignant cartilaginous neoplasm that resembles synovial chondromatosis. In the head and neck region, chondrosarcoma is uncommon, corresponding to 6.4% to 12% of all reported cases. The majority of patients with chondrosarcoma are in the third to fourth decades of life. A Pubmed search showed that 20 TMJ chondrosarcoma cases had been reported up to 2008. The present case was of an 11-year-old girl referred to an Oral Disease Center and presenting with a preauricular swelling on the right side and normal ENT evaluation. The patient was healthy. Discrete pain and mild limitation of mouth opening were observed. A panoramic radiograph as well as computed tomography (CT), ultrasound, and magnetic resonance imaging (MRI) revealed an osteolytic lesion in the right TMJ. The skull base and adjacent spaces were preserved but adjacent anatomic structures were displaced. After an incisional biopsy, the patient underwent high condylectomy. Microscopic findings showed a tumor exhibiting cartilaginous tissue proliferation with cellular pleomorphism, nuclear hyperchromasia, and mixoid changes in the matrix. The immunohistochemical analysis of the expression of Ki-67 and Cyclin B1 proteins (cellular proliferation markers) revealed a very low proliferative cell index. The 3.5 years of clinical and imaging follow-up have shown no evidence of recurrence or metastasis, but signs of myofascial disorders could be observed. It is concluded that cartilaginous lesions in the jaws must be regarded with suspicion, since benign and malignant lesions may show similar clinical features. This case emphasized the importance of interdisciplinary approaches to minimize the possibility of misdiagnosis.

Avaliação funcional do músculo trapézio e nervo espinhal pós-esvaziamento cervical através da eletroneuromiografia: estudo de 25 pacientes / Functional evaluation of trapezius muscle and spinal nerve after neck dissection through eletro-neuromiography: study of 25 patients

OBJETIVO: Foram estudados 25 pacientes portadores de neoplasias malignas da cabeça e pescoço (20 de vias aerodigestivas superiores e cinco da glândula tireóide), submetidos a esvaziamentos cervicais uni ou bilaterais (33 procedimentos), sendo 15 supra-omohióideos, 11 funcionais e sete em campos alargados. MÉTODO: Através da eletroneuromiografia (ENM), foram avaliados funcionalmente o músculo trapézio e o nervo espinhal após os diferentes procedimentos, aos 30 e 180 dias. RESULTADOS: Foram aferidos para as três formas de linfadenectomia 94 por cento de desnervação do músculo trapézio, severa em 68 por cento e moderada 32 por cento (p = 0,001), portanto valores significativos. Quanto à avaliação do tipo de lesão do nervo espinhal, após 30 dias observou-se lesão de axônio (axonotmese) em 31 dos 33 procedimentos. Com relação à reinervação, esta foi detectada após 180 dias, sendo boa (21 por cento), moderada (72 por cento) e ruim (7 por cento) para valores de p = 0,001 de significância estatística. CONCLUSÕES: A eletroneuromiografia foi um método efetivo na avaliação da unidade neuromuscular e o tipo de esvaziamento cervical conservador não foi determinante de alterações destas estruturas.

BACKGROUND: Twenty fire patients with malignant head and neck neoplasias (20 from superior aerodigestive tract and 5 from thyroid gland), were submitted to 33 unilateral or bilateral neck node dissection (15 supraomohyoid, 11 modified and 7 wide field), at the Head and Neck Service of Hospital Araújo Jorge, Goiânia, Goiás, Brazil. METHOD: Eletroneuromiography (ENM) of the trapezius muscle after spinal nerve dissection. RESULTS: In spite of surgical dissection, 94 percent of trapezius muscle desnervation were detected, being 38 percent severe and 62 percent moderate, (p = 0,001). The degree of lesion for spinal nerve after 30 days, showed axoniumtmese in 31 of 33 procedures, and after 180 days, 21 percent of severe, 72 percent of moderate and 7 percent of unsatisfactory reinervation were diagnosed (p = 0,001). CONCLUSIONS: ENM is an effective method of evaluation of neuromuscular unit (trapezius muscle/spinal nerve) and the type of neck node dissection was not determinant of structural nerve alteration.