Management of primary ameloblastoma of the jaw: a 15 years' experience.

Aim: The aim of this retrospective study was to describe our 15-year experience in the management of primary ameloblastoma of the jaw.

Methods: We investigated 26 patients who had undergone surgical treatment for a single lesion, comprising six lesions of the maxillary bone and 20 tumors of the mandible: 73% had a radiolucent multilocular lesion; 23% a unicystic lesion; and 4% had an extraosseous form of the tumor. The smaller lesions (diameter <3 cm) were treated by conservative approaches; the larger lesions required radical surgical resection.

Expression of cyclooxygenase-1 and cyclooxygenase-2 in normal and pathological human oral mucosa.

Cyclooxigenase (COX) is the rate-limiting enzyme for the conversion of arachidonic acid (AA) to prostaglandins (PGs). Two isoforms of COX have been identified: COX-1 is constitutively expressed in many cells and is involved in cell homeostasis, angiogenesis and cell-cell signalling; COX-2 is not expressed in normal condition however it is strongly expressed in inflammation. The oral cavity is constantly exposed to physical and chemical trauma that could lead to mucosal reactions such as hyperplasia, dysplasia and cancer.

Juvenile central ossifying fibroma of the mandible: a case report.

Central ossifying fibroma is a rare fibro-osseous neoplasm in young children. It is highly aggressive and has a strong tendency to recur. We describe an 11-year-old girl with juvenile central ossifying fibromas of the mandible that caused obstruction of tooth eruption of the lower left second premolar.

Sweet's syndrome induced by removable partial denture using a CoCr alloy: case report.

Sweet's syndrome is an acute febrile neutrophilic dermatosis characterized by fever, neutrophilia and erythematous skin lesions. This disease typically occurs as a reactive event in response to infective, inflammatory or neoplastic processes. The aim of this work was to describe a rare case of Sweet's syndrome induced by dental removable partial denture using a CoCr alloy.

Immunohistochemical and transcriptional expression of the matrix metalloproteinases MMP-2 and MMP-9 in normal and pathological human oral mucosa.

The oral cavity is exposed to chronic or recurrent, physical and chemical trauma that could lead to mucosal reactions (e.g. hyperplasia, dysplasia and tumors).

Matrix metalloproteinase-2 matrix metalloproteinase-9 and inducible nitric oxide synthase in oral leukoplakia: immunohistochemistry and RT-PCR analysis.

Oral leukoplakia is the most common and potentially malignant disorder of the oral mucosa. The definition of leukoplakia given by the World Health Organization is ?a white plaque that cannot be characterized either from a clinical or from a histopathological point of view?, thus the diagnosis of leukoplakia is based on the exclusion of other lesions of the oral mucosa. We believe it is necessary to identify molecular and immunohistochemical parameters that can contribute to discriminating between the different leukoplakia clinical subtypes coded by the epidemiology.

Prevalence and distribution of odontogenic cysts in Sicily: 1986-2005.

The objective of this study was to assess the prevalence of odontogenic cysts (OCs) in Sicily and evaluate their distribution during a 20-year period. A cross-sectional retrospective study was carried out in 1,310 cysts of the jaw diagnosed in 12,197 individuals, who consecutively attended the Odontostomatologic Clinic of Palermo from 1986 to 2005. 1,273 cysts were classified as odontogenic, whereas only 37 were non-odontogenic.

Morphostructural analysis of human follicular stem cells on highly porous bone hydroxyapatite scaffold.

In this study we investigated the in vitro behaviour, morphostructure and extracellular matrix synthesis of human dental follicular stem cells (hDFSCs) isolated from human dental bud, which resulted to be positive for mesenchymal markers (CD29, CD90, CD146 and CD166) by FACS analysis. Cells were analysed by light and electronic microscopy to evaluate their biological response either at week 1, that is before differentiation, or at weeks 3-6, when they had been cultured in osteogenic medium onto a highly porous natural scaffold material (Bio-Oss). Microscopy analysis of primary culture cells showed they had a mesenchymal stem cell-like morphostructure, spindle shaped, similar to the culture of mesenchymal stem cells derived from adult bone marrow.

Maxillary bone necrosis following the use of formaldehyde containing paste: management and case series.

Paraformaldehyde is used both as a disinfectant and to devitalise inflamed pulps when local anaesthesia is ineffective. Despite the clinical benefits, paraformaldehyde is not confined to the pulp, but penetrates the dentine and is gradually released as formaldehyde. This case series describes the effects on periodontal and bone tissues of paraformaldehyde used as a devitalising or disinfectant agent.

Hemangiopericytoma of the oral cavity after a ten-year follow-up.

Hemangiopericytoma (HPC) is a mesenchymal tumour that may be benign, malignant, or occur in an intermediate form. We report an unusual case of hemangiopericytoma located in the buccal mucosal region. The histopathologic features showed increased cellularity, necrosis, hemorrhage, low proliferation index, and 4 or less mitotic figures per 10 high-power fields.

[Desmoplastic ameloblastoma. Clinical and histopathological diagnostic criteria].

A rare case of desmoplastic ameloblastoma observed in a 62-year old man presenting a swelling in the anterior mandible area with abnormal mobility of 33, 34, 43, 45, is described. Diagnosis of desmoplastic ameloblastoma was based on: anterior localization, radiopaque appearance, severe desmoplastic stroma and increasing infiltrate pattern of the tumor. The authors suggest to consider the desmoplastic histotype as a different nosological entity defined "desmoplastic ameloblastoma" since these clinical and histopathological features are missing in the other histologic variants of common ameloblastoma.

[Adenoid cystic carcinoma of the anterior segment of the tongue].

The authors describe a rare case of adenoid-cystic carcinoma localized in the anterior tongue. The neoplasia is made up of epithelial and myo-epithelial cells, organized frequently in islands with cribriform aspect, was circumscribed by a thin fibrous capsule that was focally infiltrated in the proximity of the deep margin. At the physical examination no local regional lymph nodes were absent.

[Major aphthous stomatitis (Sutton's disease): etiopathogenesis, histological and clinical aspects].

Major aphthous stomatitis (Sutton's disease) is a clinical variant of recurrent aphthous stomatitis differentiated by its high level of morbidity. It is generally found in areas of non-keratinized mucosa and is characterised by the presence of necrotic giant ulcers accompanied by intense pain. While this pathology has been the subject of molecular studies, its etiopathogenesis is still unknown.

Malignant myoepithelioma of the minor salivary glands arising in a pleomorphic adenoma.

This paper reports a case of carcinoma expleomorphic adenoma of the minor salivary glands, where the carcinomatous component was a malignant myoepithelioma (myoepithelial carcinoma). Immunohistochemical investigation showed that the carcinoma cells were positive for cytokeratin, S-100 protein and vimentin, and focally positive for actin and desmin. A moderate level of positivity was found fo laminin and collagen IV around the neoplastic islands.

[Adamantinoma from odontogenic cysts].

The observation of an adamantinoma's case propped up an odontogenic cyst to check the complicated histogenic problem connected to this eventuality. After considering several theories they suppose a probable derivation from the odontogenic epithelium that has undoubted potentiality.

[Oral lichen planus: a possible precancerous lesion].

An case of epidermoid carcinoma coexisting on lichen planus is presented. After same clinical and histologic characteristics; orals lichen planus developing in carcinoma are examinated. In conclusion the authors explain an own monitoring's plain for the check in these patients.