Efficacy of Photocoagulation of Vascular Malformations in the Oral Mucosa Using Nd: YAG Laser.

The purpose of this study was to analyze the effectiveness of Nd: YAG laser photocoagulation in the treatment of vascular malformations in the oral and perioral area; 93 patients (104 lesions) were evaluated in an Ambulatory of Oral Medicine (2006-2013). The sample consisted of 57 women (61%) and 36 men (39%), aged 8 to 85 years. The lesion size was smaller than 3 cm in most patients. The lesions were located on the lips, jugal mucosa, tongue, palate, gingiva, and retromolar trigone. All patients were treated on an outpatient basis using local anesthesia and Nd: YAG laser (Power Laser C ) with a wavelength of 1064 nm and a fiber optic diameter of 400 µm. After treatment no patients had complications, however, in patients of deep lesions, 2 or more irradiations were required to treat the lesions. Finally, the authors conclude that the clinical and aesthetic satisfactory results of the 93 patients treated with Nd: YAG laser suggest that this type of laser is effective and safe in the treatment of oral and perioral vascular malformations.

Ameloblastoma with distinctive granular cell pattern: an 8 case study.

Ameloblastoma with granular cell pattern (AGC) is classified as an unusual histological subtype of solid/multicystic ameloblastoma, characterized by granular changes in stellate-like cells located within the inner portion of the epithelial follicles. Studies have revealed that lysosomal overload causes cytoplasmic granularity; however, the mechanism involved remains poorly understood. Here we report on eight cases of granular cell ameloblastoma, in the posterior region of the mandible. The age of the patients included in this case series ranged from 35 -64 years old and 87.5% of cases occurred in non-Caucasians, with a slight gender predilection for men (62.5%). There was no evidence of recurrence, and the majority of the cases were treated with surgical resection (87.5%). All tumors displayed histopathological features consistent with the diagnosis of ameloblastoma with granular cell pattern.

Bilateral mandibular osteomyelitis mimicking periapical cysts in a patient with sickle cell anemia.

Sickle cell anemia (SCA) is a hemoglobin disorder that occurs more commonly among Afro-descendants. The authors report the case of a 28-year-old Afro-descendent male patient with the diagnosis of homozygotic sickle cell disease (SCD) referred for evaluation of mandibular lesions. The patient's main complaints included pain and bilateral teeth mobility. An intraoral examination revealed gingiva recession affecting the lower molars with extensive root exposure. A panoramic x-ray showed two radiolucent symmetrical periapical lesions evolving both the first and the second lower molars, bilaterally. The diagnostic hypotheses comprised odontogenic infection, among others. Besides antimicrobial therapy, the two molars of both sides were extracted and bone was collected for histopathological and microbiological analyses. Osteomyelitis was diagnosed, and Streptococcus viridans was recovered from the culture media. Mandibular osteomyelitis should be considered as a diagnosis in patients with SCD. The present case offers an alert to clinicians about the importance of knowing jaw lesions related to SCA.

Ameloblastoma with distinctive granular cell pattern: an 8 case study

Ameloblastoma with granular cell pattern (AGC) is classified as an unusual histological subtype of solid/multicystic ameloblastoma, characterized by granular changes in stellate-like cells located within the inner portion of the epithelial follicles. Studies have revealed that lysosomal overload causes cytoplasmic granularity; however, the mechanism involved remains poorly understood. Here we report on eight cases of granular cell ameloblastoma, in the posterior region of the mandible. The age of the patients included in this case series ranged from 35 -64 years old and 87.5% of cases occurred in non-Caucasians, with a slight gender predilection for men (62.5%). There was no evidence of recurrence, and the majority of the cases were treated with surgical resection (87.5%). All tumors displayed histopathological features consistent with the diagnosis of ameloblastoma with granular cell pattern.