Osteoradionecrosis of the mandible and mastoiditis after radiotherapy for parotid mucoepidermoid carcinoma.

Osteoradionecrosis of the mandible in conjunction with mastoiditis is an extremely rare occurrence following irradiation of salivary gland malignancy in the orofacial region. We report one such case of a patient who presented to us with trismus, jaw pain, and ear discharge. Imaging of the jaws revealed classical features of osteoradionecrosis and mastoiditis. This case is important because presenting features like trismus and dental infection led us to investigative procedures that revealed extensive bone involvement including mastoiditis. Trismus progressively increased over a period of 8 years. In this case, we would like to emphasize the importance of good oral hygiene in the postradiotherapy stage for head and neck cancer.

Status of thiocyanate levels in the serum and saliva of non-smokers, ex-smokers and smokers.

BACKGROUND: Use of tobacco is often implicated in the development of oral diseases. Questionable accuracy of the traditional questionnaires to assess cigarette exposure necessitates the use of biomarkers like thiocyanate which provide a definitive quantitative measure. OBJECTIVE: To assess the rise in the level of thiocyanate for measurement of smoking behaviour in adults. MATERIALS AND METHODS: Serum and salivary thiocyanate levels were estimated in 20 non-smokers, 20 ex-smokers and 40 smokers. Smokers were divided into two groups based on the presence or absence of oral mucosal lesions. RESULTS: The mean serum and salivary thiocyanate levels were increased significantly in smokers when compared to non-smokers and ex-smokers. The levels were not significantly different between ex-smokers and non-smokers and between smokers with tobacco related oral mucosal lesions and those without. Statistically significant correlation was seen between the serum and salivary levels of thiocyanate. CONCLUSION: This study highlights the high level of thiocyanate in the serum and saliva of smokers when compared to non-smokers and ex-smokers. Significant increase in thiocyanate level was also seen in saliva. Hence it can be stated that saliva can be used as a reliable, non-invasive tool to assess smoking behaviour in the population and its changes over time.

Sialic acid as a biomarker of oral potentially malignant disorders and oral cancer.

BACKGROUND: Carcinogenesis is a multistep process where a healthy cell has initially a precancerous stage and finally an early cancerous stage. The process of carcinogenesis can be divided into three stages of initiation, promotion, and progression. In this process, there is increased turnover, secretion, and/or shedding from malignant cells. Glycoproteins like sialic acid are expressed on the cell surface. In oral potentially malignant disorders (OPMDs) and oral cancer (OC), the sialic acid level is seen to increase due to high cell turnover and shedding of malignant cells which, in turn, results in the release of glycoproteins like sialic acid into circulation. Glycoproteins also form an important constituent of salivary mucins and hence due to the same mechanism, an increase in sialic acid level is also seen in saliva. OBJECTIVE: The aim is to estimate serum and salivary sialic acid levels in healthy controls, patients with OPMDs and patients with OC. MATERIALS AND METHODS: In this observational cross-sectional study, serum and salivary sialic acid levels were estimated in thirty healthy controls, thirty patients with OPMDs and thirty patients with OC. RESULTS: Serum and salivary sialic acid levels obtained were subjected to statistical analysis. Post hoc Tukey test was used to compare the serum and salivary sialic acid levels of the two study groups to the control group. ANOVA test was used for the comparison of sialic acid levels between the groups. Pearson's correlation coefficient was used to assess correlation (P < 0.05 was considered statistically significant). The mean serum and salivary sialic acid levels were increased significantly in subjects with OPMDs and OC when compared to healthy controls. CONCLUSION: This study highlights the high expression of sialic acid on outer cell membranes, due to the significant increase in subjects with OPMDs and OC when compared to healthy controls. A significant increase in sialic acid level is also seen in saliva. Hence, it can be stated that saliva can be used as a reliable, noninvasive tool in diagnosis and management of OPMDs and OC.

Serum and salivary lactate dehydrogenase levels as biomarkers of tissue damage among cigarette smokers. A biochemical study.

OBJECTIVE: To estimate the serum and salivary lactate dehydrogenase levels in cigarette smokers and non-smokers. MATERIALS AND METHODS: In this study lactate dehydrogenase levels were estimated in 30 healthy individuals with no tobacco related habits and in 30 patients with history of smoking cigarettes for a minimum of 2 years using Spectrophotometry. RESULTS: The mean values for serum and salivary lactate dehydrogenase levels were higher in cigarette smokers when compared to non-smokers. Serum lactate dehydrogenase levels on comparison between the groups was statistically significant (p=0.04). The values of salivary lactate dehydrogenase levels between the groups was highly significant (p<0.001). CONCLUSION: Cigarette smoking leads to an increase in serum as well as salivary Lactate dehydrogenase levels as indicator of tissue damage in the oral cavity. The present study indicates saliva as a better test medium than serum in determination of lactate dehydrogenase levels.

A rare variant of calcifying odontogenic cyst with ameloblastoma presentation.

Calcifying odontogenic cyst is a rare entity which was first described by Gorlin, and also accounts for 1% of the jaw cysts according to Shear. Due to its diverse histopathology and variable clinical features, there has been a doubt regarding its nature as a cyst or a neoplasm. In this report we present a case of calcifying odontogenic cyst with mural ameloblastomatous presentation in the left body of the mandible in a 19-year-old male patient. This is the 15th case of ameloblastomatous COC being documented in literature.

Co-occurence of florid cemento-osseous dysplasia and simple bone cyst: a case report.

BACKGROUND: The purpose of this report is to present a rare case of co-occurrence of florid cemento-osseous dysplasia with simple bone cyst in a middle aged Asian woman. Most of the reported cases are isolated cases of simple bone cyst or florid cemento-osseous dysplasia, but co-occurrence of these two entities is extremely rare. METHODS: The authors report a 41 year old female patient with co-occurrence of mandibular florid cemento-osseous dysplasia with simple bone cyst. A thorough clinical and radiological examination was carried out. RESULTS: It was diagnosed mandibular cyst with possible co-occurrence of florid cemento-osseous dysplasia. Surgical exploration of the multilocular lesion was applied. Since, the patient was symptomatic at the time of presentation utmost caution was taken during the surgical procedure as florid cemento-osseous dysplasia is associated with hypo-vascularity of the affected bone. Based on histopathological, as well as supporting clinico-radiological findings a confirmative diagnosis of florid cemento-osseous dysplasia co-occurring with simple bone cyst was made. Patient was followed-up for a period of six months and was reported to be asymptomatic. CONCLUSIONS: Timely diagnosis and well planned treatment is important to obtain a good prognosis when a rare co-occurrence of two or more bone lesions affects the jaws.