Mucus extravasation and retention phenomena: a 24-year study.

BACKGROUND: Mucoceles are benign lesions related to the minor salivary glands and their respective ducts frequently affecting oral structures which are generally asymptomatic. Mucoceles are generally characterized by swollen nodular lesions preferentially located on the lower lip and differ from the so-called ranulas, which are lesions located on the floor of the mouth and related to the sublingual or submandibular glands. METHODS: The objective of the present study was to analyze data such as age, gender, race and site of the lesion of 173 mucocele cases diagnosed at the Discipline of Stomatology, São José dos Campos Dental School, UNESP, over a period of 24 years (April 1980 to February 2003). RESULTS: Of the 173 cases analyzed, 104 (60.12%) were females and 69 (39.88%) were males. Age ranged from 4 to 70 years (mean +/- SD: 17 +/- 9.53) and most patients were in the second decade of life (n = 86, 49.42%); white (n = 124, 71.68%). The lower lip was the site most frequently affected by the lesions (n = 135, 78.03%), whereas the lowest prevalence was observed for the soft palate, buccal mucosa, and lingual frenum. CONCLUSION: In this study, mucoceles predominated in white female subjects in the second decade of life, with the lower lip being the most frequently affected site.

Inclination of the condylar long axis is not related to temporomandibular disc displacement.

AIM: The aim of the present study was to correlate the angle formed by inclination of the condylar long axis and median sagittal plane to the presence of internal disc derangement, as well as changes in eccentric mandibular positions. METHODS: The sample consisted of magnetic resonance images of 35 temporomandibular joint (TMJ) acquired with a 1.5T magnetic resonance imaging system with surface coils of 8.5 cm in diameter. Parasagittal images were used according to the following parameters: TMJ disc position with mouth closed, TMJ disc position with mouth open, TMJ disc function, and degrees of rotation and translation of the condyle. Next, we determined the angles between the condyle long axis and median sagittal plane by using axial images. RESULTS: The results showed correlations between TMJ disc position and disc function (P = 0.009), as well as between disc position and degree of condylar rotation (P = 0.008). The main purpose of the present study was to assess the angle of the condylar long axis, with no statistical correlation being found between this variable and disc position (P = 0.787), disc function (P = 0.091), condylar translation (P = 0.808), and condylar rotation (P = 0.115). CONCLUSION: There was no relationship between inclination of the condyle long axis and parameters of internal derangements.

Clinical and histologic features of botryoid odontogenic cyst: a case report.

INTRODUCTION: The lateral periodontal cyst, as the name implies, occurs on a lateral periodontal location and is of developmental origin, arising from cystic degeneration of clear cells of the dental lamina. A botryoid odontogenic cyst is considered to be a rare multilocular variant of a lateral periodontal cyst. CASE PRESENTATION: We report the clinical and histopathologic features of a rare case of botryoid odontogenic cyst found in an edentulous area corresponding to the right lower canine of a 64-year-old African-American woman. A multilocular radiolucency was observed, and surgical removal of the lesion revealed a nodule of rubber-like consistency measuring about 1.5 cm in diameter. Cross-sectioning of the nodule showed that it consisted of various cystic compartments. Histologically, various voluminous periodic acid-Schiff-negative clear cells randomly distributed throughout the cystic epithelium were observed, as well as cell layers showing thickenings generally formed by oval, sometimes entangled plaques. The capsule consisted of fibrous connective tissue and showed rare and discrete foci of a perivascular mononuclear inflammatory infiltrate and reactive bone-tissue fragments. The final diagnosis was botryoid odontogenic cyst. CONCLUSION: We provide data that allow the reader to establish the differences between botryoid odontogenic cyst, glandular odontogenic cyst, and lateral periodontal cyst, helping with the differential diagnosis. The reader will have the opportunity to review botryoid odontogenic cyst clinical and histopathologic features, including treatment.