Clinical decision making when cytology indicates a Warthin tumor.

Warthin tumor (WT) is a benign tumor usually affecting the parotid gland. The main diagnostic tool remains ultrasound combined with fine-needle aspiration cytology (FNAC). This study aims to examine how reliably FNAC indicates WT for clinical decision making regarding surgical versus conservative management. We included all patients who underwent FNAC from a parotid gland lesion between 2016 and 2018 at our institution, and whose FNAC revealed WT suspicion. The FNACs were divided into three groups based on the cytology report: certain, likely, and possible WT. The patients were divided into two groups based on having had either surgery or follow-up. We sent a questionnaire to patients who had not undergone surgery in order to obtain follow-up for a minimum of four years. Altogether, 135 FNAC samples, from 133 tumors and 125 patients, showed signs of WT. Of the 125 patients, 44 (35%) underwent surgery, and 81 (65%) were managed conservatively. Preoperative misdiagnosis in FNAC occurred in three (7%) surgically treated tumors. Their FNACs were reported as possible WTs, but histopathology revealed another benign lesion. In the conservatively treated group, two patients underwent surgery later during the follow-up. Cytological statements of WT were seldom false, and none were malignant. The majority of the patients were only followed-up and rarely required further treatment. A certain or likely diagnosis of WT in the FNAC report by an experienced head and neck pathologist is highly reliable in selecting patients for conservative surveillance.

Histopathological findings of oral epithelial dysplasias and their relation to malignant transformation.

OBJECTIVES: Oral squamous cell carcinomas (OSCCs) are often diagnosed late. This study aimed to determine how frequently oral epithelial dysplasia (OED) transforms to OSCC and to identify histological features that could influence the rate of malignant transformation. MATERIALS AND METHODS: The study was a retrospective analysis of OED over 29 years at the Institute of Dentistry, University of Turku, Finland. OEDs with co-existing carcinomas were excluded from the data (5.8%). OED patients who developed carcinoma were identified from the Finnish Cancer Registry database. RESULTS: Altogether 681 OED patients had a mean age of 59.0 years, and the male:female ratio was 0.67. Of all OED samples, 21.8% were on the tongue, followed by lining mucosa (21.3%), lip (5.3%), and masticatory mucosa (4.85%). In addition, 46.7% had no location cited. The prevalence of mild dysplasia was 62.4%, moderate dysplasia 29.1%, and severe dysplasia 3.2%. Of the patients, 94.7% had an additional histological diagnosis alongside OED. Candidiasis, lichenoid inflammation, and ulcer were found in 18.2%, 0.0%, and 22.7% of severe dysplasias, in 12.1%, 12.2%, and 22.7% of moderate dysplasias, and in 6.6%, 12.2%, and 15.8% of mild dysplasias, respectively. An additional histopathological diagnosis did not increase the risk for OED to transform to OSCC. In a mean time of 5.2 (range 0.7-29.0) years, 7.5% of OED patients developed OSCC. CONCLUSIONS: Location on the tongue and the more severe OED grades increased the risk of malignant transformation of OED. These patients may benefit from an intensified follow-up schedule to ensure early diagnosis of OSCC.

Malignant lymphoma presenting as bilateral sensorineural hearing loss-A case report.

Bilateral Sensorineural Hearing Loss is a rare disease that is often associated with other complex medical conditions. Primary central nervous system lymphoma is an uncommon and aggressive variant of non-Hodgkin lymphoma that can mimic many other neurological diseases. Herein, we present a rare case of lymphoma of the CNS as the etiology for progressive SSNHL. We describe a 58-year-old male with previous IgG4-disease presentation who was diagnosed with progressive sensorineural hearing loss. The condition evolved rapidly despite proper, conventional therapy. The patient acquired vestibular symptoms and other cranial nerve deficiencies and he was diagnosed with intracranial lymphoma, mainly in the cerebellar region. This case demonstrates that rare intracranial lymphoma can present initially as sensorineural hearing loss. A higher suspicion for malignancy should be held in mind for patients with a history of IgG4-related diseases and for patients presenting with progressing bilateral SSNHL that is not responding to therapy.

MMP-7, -8, -9, E-cadherin, and beta-catenin expression in 34 ameloblastoma cases.

OBJECTIVES: Ameloblastoma is a benign, locally aggressive odontogenic tumor with high recurrence rates. Matrix metalloproteinases (MMPs) mediate extracellular integrity in normal and pathological conditions, and exert multiple functions coordinating inflammation and tumor progression. E-cadherin and beta-catenin are adherence junction molecules in cell-to-cell connections. We investigated the involvement of MMP-7, -8, -9, E-cadherin, and beta-catenin in ameloblastoma and the surrounding extracellular matrix. MATERIAL AND METHODS: Our material consisted of 30-34 tissue samples from ameloblastoma patients of Helsinki University Hospital. We used immunohistochemistry to detect the expression of the biomarkers. Two oral pathologists independently scored the immunoexpression intensities and statistical calculations were made based on the results. RESULTS: E-cadherin expression was weaker in the maxillary than in mandibular ameloblastomas. Beta-catenin was expressed in the ameloblastoma cell membranes. We detected MMP-8 and -9 expression in polymorphonuclear neutrophils in the extracellular area and these MMPs correlated positively with each other. Osteoclasts lining bone margins and multinuclear giant cells expressed MMP-9. Neither MMP-8 nor MMP-9 immunoexpression could be detected in ameloblastoma cells. MMP-7 expression was seen in some apoptotic cells. CONCLUSION: The fact that E-cadherin immunoexpression was weaker in maxillary compared to mandibular ameloblastomas might associate to earlier recurrences. It promotes the idea of mandibular and maxillary ameloblastoma exerting differences in their biologies. We detected MMP-8 and -9 in polymorphonuclear neutrophils which relates to these MMPs participating in extracellular remodeling through a mild inflammatory process. Bone degradation around ameloblastoma may be due to MMP-9 in osteoclasts but this phenomenon might be an independent process and needs further investigations.

BRAF V600E expression in ameloblastomas-A 36-patient cohort from Helsinki University Hospital.

OBJECTIVES: We aimed to investigate BRAF V600E percentage immunohistochemically in ameloblastomas of a single institute cohort. We were interested if age, location, histological properties, or tumor recurrence depend on the BRAF status. SUBJECTS, MATERIALS AND METHODS: We had 36 formalin-fixed, paraffin-embedded ameloblastoma tissue samples of patients treated at the Helsinki University Hospital between the years 1983-2016. Tissue sections underwent immunohistochemistry by Ventana BenchMark XT immunostainer using Ms Anti-Braf V600E (VE1) MAB. We used R 3.4.2 and RStudio 1.1.383 to conduct statistical analysis for BRAF positivity and earlier onset as well as tumor location. We used chi-squared tests and 2-by-2 table functions to determine connections between BRAF positivity and recurrence, growth pattern, and type. RESULTS: BRAF-positive tumors occurred in younger patients compared to BRAF-negative tumors (p = 0.015) and they located mostly to the mandible (p < 0.001). Growth patterns were limited to two in BRAF-negative tumors when BRAF-positive tumors presented with one to four growth patterns (p = 0.02). None of the maxillary tumors showed BRAF positivity and of these, 72.2% recurred. CONCLUSIONS: An immunohistochemical BRAF marker could be a beneficial tool to predict the outcome of patients with this aggressive, easily recurring tumor.

Ameloblastoma: a retrospective single institute study of 34 subjects.

Objective: This study aims to clarify demographic and clinical aspects of patients with ameloblastoma treated at a single Finnish institute during 1985-2016. Associations between predictor variables (gender and age) and outcome variables (location, tumour type, growth patterns and average tumour size) were sought.Materials and methods: A retrospective cohort study was designed and implemented including 34 patients diagnosed with primary ameloblastoma and treated at the Helsinki University Central Hospital. Patient records were investigated, and tissue samples re-evaluated. The chi-square test was used on all categorized variables and t-test for continuous ones. A p value equal to or under .05 was considered significant.Results: Males were slightly more predominant among the Finnish patients with ameloblastoma. Maxillary tumours were seen exclusively in male patients (p = .034). Additionally, these patients were older than patients with mandibular tumours (p = .007). A mixture in histological growth patterns was more common than originally anticipated. The study revealed a wide range of clinical signs and subjective symptoms, of which pain or other sensations were experienced most often.Conclusions: This study of 34 subjects shows that southern Finnish patients with ameloblastoma do not substantially differ from patients in similar study designs.

Imaging characteristics of ameloblastomas and diagnostic value of computed tomography and magnetic resonance imaging in a series of 26 patients.

OBJECTIVES: To evaluate the imaging characteristics of ameloblastomas and to analyze the diagnostic value of computed tomography (CT) and magnetic resonance imaging (MRI) compared with conventional dentoalveolar imaging. STUDY DESIGN: In this observational retrospective study, the panoramic radiographs (n = 25) and the CT (n = 26) and MRI (n = 5) images of histopathologically verified ameloblastomas in 26 patients were reviewed. RESULTS: Characteristic findings were multilocularity, marked expansion of the cortical plate, perforation at an earlier stage, and extensive root resorption. On contrast-enhanced CT or MRI, the majority (14 of 17) of the nonunicystic ameloblastomas contained a mixed cystic and solid pattern. Unicystic ameloblastomas (n = 6) and ameloblastomas derived from the cyst epithelium (n = 2) showed thick rim enhancement or a mural solid component in an otherwise cystic lesion. CONCLUSIONS: Contrast-enhanced CT and MRI greatly aid in distinguishing between ameloblastomas and other cystlike lesions because they allow for visualization of the mixed cystic and solid content characteristic of nonunicystic ameloblastomas. The differential diagnostic value of CT and MRI is significant with regard to unicystic ameloblastomas.