Analysis of oral mucosa erosive-ulcerative lesions by reflectance confocal microscopy.

In vivo Reflectance Confocal Microscopy (RCM) allows to optically biopsy vital tissues, non-invasively and in real time. It results in horizontal virtual slices at a microscopic resolution and correlating with conventional histopathology. The aim of the present work is to describe RCM cellular and architectural findings in oral mucosae affected by erosive-ulcerative diseases, thus highlighting in vivo the wellknown histological peculiarities. A series of conventionally diagnosed Recurrent Aphthous stomatitis (RAS) and Pemphigus Vulgaris (PV) erosive and/or ulcerative oral lesions underwent RCM imaging to establish the application of RCM imaging to this kind of inflammatory non-tumoral lesions. A total of 12 RAS-related lesions and 8 PV-related lesions were considered. RCM imaging was capable to visualize their microscopic peculiarities, mainly inflammatory infiltrate, vessel dilation (RAS) and acantholytic cells, intraepithelial clefts and inflammatory cell carpets (PV). Despite RCM may result unnecessary to diagnose oral lesions referred to RAS and PV, its capability to highlight their main microscopic features could be advantageously used to monitor the healing or worsening of the clinical situation as well as the responsiveness/refractoriness to therapy.

Association between denture stomatitis, candida species and diabetic status.

Candida species are commensal yeasts of the oral cavity, which, under predisposing systemic and/or local circumstances, are responsible for a wide variety of clinical manifestations, globally known as oral candidiasis. Candida-associated denture stomatitis is an oral candidiasis particularly affecting the oral mucosa covered by a dental prosthesis, with several degree of severity. Diabetics suffer oral candidiasis more frequently than healthy individuals do and if they are denture wearers, the risk increases. Since various controversies still remain regarding the interrelationship among diabetes, oral Candida spp. strains involved in denture stomatitis and the presence of dentures, the present review aims to investigate the differences in Candida species frequencies and degree of denture stomatitis severity existing among diabetic and non- diabetic individuals, with and without dentures.

Topical toluidine blue-mediated photodynamic therapy for the treatment of oral lichen planus.

Photodynamic Therapy (PDT) is a minimally invasive approach that has shown promising results in management of oral, head and neck lesions. PDT can be used alone or in combination with other conventional treatments (surgery, chemotherapy, radiotherapy). Oral Lichen Planus (OLP) is a mucosal and cutaneous chronic disease characterized by an autoimmune insult of basal keratinocytes. We aim to evaluate the feasibility of topical toluidine blue-mediated PDT for the treatment of oral cavity multifocal homogeneous white lesions by oral lichen planus without dysplastic features.