Oral leiomyosarcoma: the importance of early diagnosis.

OBJECTIVE: Present a case clinic of leimyosarcoma. BACKGROUND: Leiomyosarcomas (LMSs) are malignant mesenchymal tumours of smooth muscle differentiation that grow rapidly and whose prognosis is dependent upon the tumour site and disease stage. Their location in the oral cavity is considered extremely rare due to the lack of smooth muscle tissue in that area. MATERIALS AND METHODS: We present an LMSs case of the buccal mucosa in an elderly patient patient with a follow-up of 4 years. CONCLUSION: Early diagnosis and treatment play a key role in a better prognosis.

Malignant transformation of oral lichen planus by a chronic inflammatory process. Use of topical corticosteroids to prevent this progression?

BACKGROUND: Oral lichen planus is a potentially malignant disorder with a capacity, although low, for malignant transformation. Of all the factors related to the process of malignant transformation, it is believed that the chronic inflammatory process plays a key role in the development of oral cancer. This inflammatory process is capable of providing a microenvironment based on different inflammatory cells and molecules that affect cellular growth, proliferation and differentiation. OBJECTIVES: The objectives of our study are: to review the available evidence about the possible relationship between the chronic inflammatory process present in oral lichen planus and its malignant transformation, to discuss the potential therapeutic implications derived from this relationship and to study the role that topical corticosteroids play in the control of oral lichen planus inflammation and its possible progression to malignant transformation. CONCLUSION: The maintenance of a minimum dose of topical corticosteroids could prevent the inflammatory progression of oral lichen planus to oral cancer.