Diminutive compound odontoma in a child: a case report with emphasis on early detection.

The odontoma is regarded as a hamartomatous process of the jaws. Most are discovered as an incidental radiographic finding, averaging 15 mm in size. This report describes a case of a diminutive odontoma that was surgically removed before the onset of eruptive and pathologic consequences. A compilation of documented complications and syndromes associated with odontomas is also presented.

Rare nonsyndromic recurrent solitary gingival neurofibroma in an older adult.

BACKGROUND: Neurofibromas are benign peripheral nerve sheath tumors usually featured with neurofibromatosis type 1 syndrome. Recurrent gingival neurofibromas have been rarely reported in the periodontal literature, particularly affecting elderly patients. METHODS AND RESULTS: A 70-year-old man with a pale, rubbery, and painless thickening along the facial/buccal gingiva of the mandibular right canine and first premolar. Ten years prior, the patient had undergone excision of a neurofibroma within the same region. The patient denied a history of cutaneous disease or neurofibromatosis. Histopathologic and immunostaining of the excised lesion confirmed the diagnosis as a recurrent gingival neurofibroma. CONCLUSIONS: With cases of suspected recurrent neurofibroma, attending practitioners should consult with an oral pathologist whether the primary lesion had exhibited tumor cells to the surgical specimen margin. Preoperative use of a cone beam computed tomography scan may enhance determination of tumor depth. Clinicians should also carefully weigh the decision for conservative excision of gingival neurofibromas and greater risk of recurrence versus performing a somewhat wider extirpation and possible formation of a mucogingival defect. KEY POINTS: What are important clinical considerations when performing a gingival biopsy? Gingival neurofibromas may be associated with an increased risk for recurrence owing to decisions for tissue-sparing excision and prevention of a mucogingival defect; supplemental use of cone beam computed tomographic scans may provide greater appreciation of tumor depth. What is a reasonable length of time of postoperative assessment for gingival neurofibromas? Patients who have undergone surgical removal of a gingival neurofibroma should undergo yearly surveillance for at least 10 years. What is a key limitation to this case study? Preoperatively, attending clinicians should consult with an oral pathologist to ascertain whether a primary lesion had manifested tumor cells to the surgical margin. Conservative gingival resection of a neurofibroma may promote recurrence.

Spindle cell lipoma of the buccal mucosa: Uncommon finding in an older adult.

OBJECTIVE: This article reports a case of a longstanding, slowly enlarging intraoral spindle cell lipoma (SCL) that had become increasingly painful during mastication. BACKGROUND: The SCL represents an uncommon variant of the conventional lipoma. There is limited information regarding this lesion in the gerodontologic literature. MATERIALS AND METHODS: A 68-year-old patient underwent an excisional biopsy of a 9-mm slightly yellow papule along the buccal mucosa. RESULTS: The surgical specimen was composed of mature adipocytes with abundant spindle cell populations and was diagnosed as a SCL. CONCLUSIONS: Timely removal of the SCL may reduce the incidence of clinical and surgical complications, particularly in older adults. The management of a SCL is complete excision, and recurrence is rare. Lesions must be carefully distinguished microscopically from its malignant counterpart, the spindle cell liposarcoma.

Osteopontin and MMP9: Associations with VEGF Expression/Secretion and Angiogenesis in PC3 Prostate Cancer Cells.

Osteopontin and MMP9 are implicated in angiogenesis and cancer progression. The objective of this study is to gain insight into the molecular mechanisms underlying angiogenesis, and to elucidate the role of osteopontin in this process. We report here that osteopontin/αvß3 signaling pathway which involves ERK1/2 phosphorylation regulates the expression of VEGF. An inhibitor to MEK or curcumin significantly suppressed the phosphorylation of ERK1/2 and expression of VEGF. MMP9 knockdown reduces the secretion but not the expression of VEGF. Moreover, MMP9 knockdown increases the release of angiostatin, a key protein that suppresses angiogenesis. Conditioned media from PC3 cells treated with curcumin or MEK inhibitor inhibited tube formation in vitro in human microvascular endothelial cells. Similar inhibitory effect on tube formation was found with conditioned media collected from PC3 cells expressing mutant-osteopontin at integrin-binding site and knockdown of osteopontin or MMP9. We conclude that MMP9 activation is associated with angiogenesis via regulation of secretion of VEGF and angiostatin in PC3 cells. Curcumin is thus a potential drug for cancer treatment because it demonstrated anti-angiogenic and anti-invasive properties.