Multiple primary enoral soft tissue manifestations of a Hodgkin lymphoma--case report and literature review.

BACKGROUND: Hodgkin lymphoma (HL) are lymphoproliferative neoplasms, histologically comprising of mononuclear and multinucleated Hodgkin and Reed Sternberg cells (HRS). About 4 % of all lymphatic malignancies of the head and neck are HL. The typical disease presents itself as a nodal lesion. Extranodal, enoral soft tissue involvement by HL is very rare. CASE REPORT: A 73-year-old man with a suspect, ulcerating lesion in the left retromolar region of the mandible was assigned to our hospital. Prior anti-inflammatory therapy has been without success. Subsequently, three biopsies were taken which could only show inflammation. Finally, two biopsies from the left retromolar region and the left inner cheek showed HRS cells with positive expressions of CD15 and CD30 corresponding to a Hodgkin lymphoma. No lymphatic node or bone involvement could be detected. The patient was designated to receive radio-chemotherapy, but died 3 weeks after diagnosis of multiple organ failure. In a literature review, together with this report, nine cases were found concerning primary HL of the oral mucosa. Accordingly, this is the first case of primary multiple extranodal HL in the oral mucosa in absence of lymphatic node involvement. DISCUSSION: Neither clinical features nor radiological appearances of HL presenting as primary enoral lesions are pathognomonic. Especially when only small biopsy specimens are available, histological diagnosis remains challenging, may lead to a delay in therapy and may result in a significant worse prognosis.

[Retrospective analysis of the prognostic significance of the manner of mandibular resection and adjuvant radiotherapy in para-mandibular carcinomas]. / Retrospektive Analyse zur prognostischen Bedeutung der Art der Unterkieferresektion und einer adjuvanten Strahlentherapie bei unterkiefernahen Karzinomen.

The prognostic effect of bone resection (continuous vs non-continuous) was analysed in a retrospective study of 100 patients who were treated for squamous cell carcinoma located close to the lower jaw, between 1983 and 1994. Tumour stage, type of bone resection, extent of lymphatic node resection, dose of radiotherapy and chemotherapy were documented. Prognosis was characterised by the statistical end points "death", "metastasis" and "relapse". Thirty-two stage pT2 carcinomas, half of which were treated by continuous and half by non-continuous resection of the lower jaw, showed the same occurrence of the statistical end points death, metastasis or relapse. There was a trend towards a significantly longer survival time and metastasis-free interval in the group of continuous resection. The hazard ratios, however, showed no effect depending on the type of resection. However, both tumour stage (pTNM) and dose of radiation independently influenced prognosis in multivariate analysis. Consequently, three groups were defined. Univariate analysis of 62 patients without radiotherapy vs 19 with low-dose radiotherapy (36 Gy) and 19 with high-dose (62 Gy) showed a positive effect on the rate and time of survival in the group treated with high-dose radiotherapy. This was confirmed by multivariate analysis showing significantly lower hazard ratios for death and metastasis in the high-dose radiotherapy group after adjusting to cofactors (e.g. tumour stage). The data of this study challenge the current concept of resection of the lower jaw. However, due to the low number of patients and the retrospective character of the study, it is not possible to give suggestions regarding established therapy concepts. The advances of a high-dose radiotherapy in this study should be the subject of further multicentre retrospective and prospective randomised trials.

[Cytokeratin expression in botryoid odontogenic cyst. A rare differential keratocyst and ameloblastoma diagnosis]. / Zytokeratinexpression der botryoiden odontogenen Zyste. Eine seltene Differentialdiagnose zu Keratozyste und Ameloblastom.

The botryoid odontogenic cyst (BOC) is considered a rare multilocular variant of the lateral periodontal cyst. The origin of the BOC can be seen in aberrant odontogenic tissue. The BOC is found especially in the premolar region of the mandible, as well as in the frontal region of the maxilla of patients aged between 60 and 70 years. Most of the 11 published articles of BOC have shown high rates of recurrence. Histopathologically the BOC is marked by multilocular cysts lined by a thin, nonkeratinized epithelium. Clusters of glycogen-rich epithelial cells may be noted in nodular thickenings of the cyst lining. For the clinician, the differentiation of the BOC from the keratocyst and ameloblastoma is relevant. One case of a large BOC (65-year-old male, BOC regio 33-45, diameter 5 cm, radiographically and histologically multilocular) is presented with a review of the literature, including the therapeutic management, and the possible diagnostic criteria are discussed. The immunohistochemically determined expression of cytokeratin (CK) 13 implicates the histogenetic origin of the BOC from the squamous epithelium of the oral cavity and excludes the origin from the small salivary glands. The expression of CK 19 and the lack of expression of p53, as well as the higher proliferation rate of the basal epithelial cell layer by the BOC, may be useful for distinction between the keratocyst.

[(18F)-2-fluorodeoxyglucose PET. Prospects for secondary prevention of mouth cavity carcinoma]. / [18F]-2-Fluordeoxyglukose-PET. Perspektiven der Sekundärprophylaxe des Mundhöhlenkarzinoms.

AIMS: The predominant cause of death due to oral cancer is the failure to control local tumor due to regional tumor recurrence. The sequelae of surgical resection and high-dose irradiation cause substantial changes in head and neck anatomy, leading to considerable problems in the early morphological detection of recurrent disease. Therefore, this study evaluates the verification of cancer recurrence by means of its pathologic glucose metabolism. MATERIALS AND METHODS: We reviewed a total of 50 [18F]-2-fluordeoxyglucose positron emission tomography (18FDG-PET) investigations performed in 44 patients who had undergone surgical resection of oral cancer. In 23 cases, re-staging (group A) was indicated due to suspicion of recurrent or secondary tumor manifestation. In 27 cases, PET served as a screening procedure (group B). Statistic evaluation included sensitivity, specificity, positive/negative predictive value and accuracy of 18FDG-PET for the detection of tumor manifestation. RESULTS: 18FDG-PET correctly identified 23 of 26 tumor sites (88%) in the re-staging group and 9 of 10 tumor sites (90%) in the screening group. We encountered a total number of 16 false-positive foci with an increased 18FDG-uptake. In six patients, 18FDG-PET detected tumor recurrence several months before a morphological correlative could be identified. In 5 of these 6 patients, the PET findings for the latter tumor sites determined the patient's fate. Specificity was 63% for local recurrence, 97% for secondary lymph node involvement and 90% for distant metastasis. CONCLUSION: According to these data, 18FDG-PET is the most effective diagnostic tool in the follow-up of oral cancer patients to date. Due to the high prevalence of recurrent disease in the follow-up of oral cancer, either the detection of early recurrence or the identification of additional, incurable tumors may add substantially to a rational therapeutic management. We therefore recommend 18FDG-PET for screening and re-staging of recurrent oral cancer.

[Prognosis and prognostic factors of endosseous implants in the irradiated jaw]. / Prognose und Prognosefaktoren enossaler Implantate im bestrahlten Kiefer.

In comparison to tumor patients not receiving radiotherapy, the rehabilitation of masticatory function after head and neck irradiation is limited due to radiation-induced caries, radioxerostomia, and the risk of osteoradionecrosis. This study focused on implants in the irradiated jaw and on the evaluation of the prognosis and the effect of potential factors on the prognosis. The retrospective study covered 197 implants (47 patients) from 1988 to 1997. The implant prognosis was determined by implant survival statistics (Kaplan-Meier). Losses not related to the implants were censored. In addition, groups were formed according to factors potentially affecting the prognosis. The significance of differences in the groups relative to survival were tested using the log-rank test. Twelve (6.1%) implants from a total of 197 were lost due to peri-implantitis, and eight (4.1%) due to possible biomechanical stress. A total of 52 losses (26.4%) due to death of patients and two (1.0%) due to resection of the jaw were censored; 111 (56.3%) implants remained at recall and the average interval was 33 months. The rates of implant survival (Kaplan-Meier) after 1 and 2 years were 95%, after 3 and 4 years 92%, and after 5 and 6 years 72%. The univariate analysis of group comparisons showed a significantly lower rate of loss after perimplant flap reconstruction (p = 0.036). There was no effect due to the doses of irradiation (p = 0.16), chemotherapy (p = 0.90), or peri-implant osteoplasty (p = 0.84). Although none of the implants inserted before radiotherapy had to be explanted, the implant survival difference in the very heterogeneous groups was not significant (preirradiation, n = 29; postirradiation: n = 156; p = 0.13). According to the literature, the rate of survival of teeth which were sound before radiotherapy (1 year, 75%; 5 years, 45%) was distinctly lower than the survival of enossal implants (1 year, 95%; 5 years, 72%). The high-quality rehabilitation of masticatory function with implant-based protheses is the preferred method of treatment for irradiated tumor patients. In addition, contraindications for enossal implants were ruled out for all studied factors affecting prognosis.

[Value of (F18)-2-fluorodeoxyglucose PET scanning in staging mouth cavity carcinoma. Comparative evaluation of PET findings before and after preoperative radiochemotherapy with histological and computerized tomography findings]. / Stellenwert der [F18]-2-Fluor-desoxyglukose-PET im Staging des Mundhöhlenkarzinoms. Vergleichende Auswertung von PET-Befunden vor und nach präoperativer Radiochemotherapie mit histologischen und computertomographischen Befunden.

OBJECTIVE: The lack of sensitivity and specificity of conventional imaging techniques based on morphological critera is responsible for considerable limitations in the staging and surveillance of oral cancer. Therefore, this study investigates the contribution of [F18]-2-fluordesoxyglucose (FDG) positron emission tomography (PET) to tumor management with special regard to lymphnode involvement and therapeutic monitoring after radiotherapy. DESIGN: Prospective observational study. PATIENTS: Twenty-one patients with advanced oral cancer, predominantly T3/T4. INTERVENTION: FDG-PET scans before and after preoperative radio(chemo)therapy. Standardized uptake values (SUV) were determined for the tumor site and lymphnode areas. PET scans were correlated to histological findings after ablative tumor surgery. RESULTS: FDG-PET yielded superior sensitivity and specificity for tumor and lymphnode assessment. The effect of radiotherapy was reflected by the metabolic activity of the tumor, which shows a close correlation between the decrease of FDG uptake and histologic tumor regression. PET detected distant metastases and simultaneous tumors. CONCLUSION: FDG-PET is a challenging imaging technique with the potential to improve staging procedures for oral cancer. In the monitoring of metabolic activity of the tumor in the course of radio(chemo)therapy, FDG-PET allows objective measurement of the treatment response.

Pathological fractures of the mandible. A review of the etiology and treatment.

A retrospective study was undertaken to analyse the etiology, site and treatment procedures of 30 pathological fractures of the mandible. Fifty percent of the fractures had an inflammatory cause. The remaining cases were associated with severe atrophy of edentulous mandibles (4), benign tumours (3), cysts (3), and primary or secondary malignancies (5). Regardless of the cause, the majority of the fractures occurred in the body of the mandible. Pathological fractures of the mandible most often have to be treated by eliminating the cause of the underlying condition while immobilizing the fragments either with osteosynthesis or archbars and intermaxillary fixation.

[Basaloid squamous epithelial carcinoma of the mouth mucosa]. / Das basaloide Plattenepithelkarzinom (BSC) der Mundschleimhaut.

The basaloid-squamous carcinoma (BSC) that was first described in 1986 by Wain et al. for the head and neck region is a rare distinct variant of squamous cell carcinoma (SCC). The cardinal histopathologic feature is a biphasic cellular pattern of basaloid and squamous components. BSC has been confused with solid adenoid cystic carcinoma (ACC). Although the number of reported cases is small, BSC appears biologically virulent, with a propensity to aggressive local behavior, early regional and distant metastasis, and subsequent poor survival. We report the clinicopathological characteristics of 4 new cases and compare their immunohistochemical features with those of solid ACC and conventional SCC. Our results show that BSC, ACC and SCC react to CK 5/6. SCC is CK 10- and CK 13-positive, while BSC and ACC are negative for these markers. BSC and ACC react to CK 8, but in ACC only the luminal cells are CK 8 positive: therefore ACC has a glandular pattern. Our findings indicate that the immunohistochemical differences between BSC and ACC can facilitate their differential diagnosis. Because the biologic behavior of BSC differs from ACC and SCC, distinction among these tumor types is warranted.

[Rosai-Dorfman lymphadenopathy, a rare reactive lymphoproliferative disease. How valid are ultrasound morphologic criteria in lymph node involvement?]. / Die Rosai-Dorfman-Lymphadenopathie, eine seltene reaktive lymphoproliferative Erkrankung. Wie valide sind sonomorphologische Dignitätskriterien beim Lymphknotenbefall?

AIM: The established criteria for benignity or malignancy of lymph nodes when evaluated with B-mode ultrasound can be divided into quantitative measures (size, quantity, contour and density) and qualitative parameters (configuration and structure). The validity of these criteria is controversial. METHODS: Two cases of sinus histiocytosis with massive lymphadenopathy (SHML) are presented; this is a rare benign reactive disorder in which massive enlargement of cervical lymph nodes often occurs. These enlarged nodes offer a chance to demonstrate and discuss the validity of the sonomorphological criteria. RESULTS: The enlarged lymph nodes in SHML fulfill most of the criteria for malignancy. The same results are meet in other disorders with prominent but benign lymphadenopathy. CONCLUSION: The current ultrasonic criteria to determine benignity/malignancy in lymph nodes most likely simply indicate a large number of enlarged nodes. Pathologic diagnosis remains the gold standard.

A possible inflammatory reaction in a lateral neck cyst (branchial cyst) because of odontogenic infection.

We present the case of a woman who suffered from an acutely infected diffuse mass in the right neck. This mass had grown rapidly after difficult extraction of a tooth. Histologic analysis of the excised material revealed a lateral neck cyst with a lymph node that showed signs of an acute inflammation near the cyst. These findings support the theory that a preexisting lateral neck cyst may be "activated" by an intraoral inflammation. The different theories of the origin of lateral neck cysts are presented and discussed in the context of the case description.

[Radiotherapy in scar-induced keloid]. / Strahlentherapie beim Narbenkeloid.

AIMS: In a retrospective study, the results of the excision of keloids in combination with postoperative irradiation were investigated with respect to the cosmetic effect and the recurrence rate. PATIENTS: Between 1978 and 1990, 20 patients aged between 15 and 64 years who, together, had a total of 23 localized keloids, were submitted to prophylactic irradiation following excision of the latter. TREATMENT: Radiotherapy was applied, fractionated, using low-energy (soft) X-rays, the strontium 90 Dermaplatte, or with electrons produced by a linear accelerator. The mean total surface dose applied was 20 Gy. RESULTS: Eighteen patients with 21 keloids were followed-up for a period of between 2 months and 12 years (mean: 33 months). The cosmetic result was good or very good in 17, and unsatisfactory in four of the 21 keloids. Prior to treatment, 18 of the keloids were associated with local complaints; 15 of these cases were symptom-free after treatment. CONCLUSION: With the combination of excision and postoperative irradiation, the results of keloid treatment can be improved, and recurrence largely avoided.

[Balloon occlusion test before carotid ligature (author's transl)]. / Ballonokklusionstest vor Karotisligatur.

The risk of ligating one carotid artery was tested by balloon occlusion of that vessel for a period of 30 to 60 minutes, during which time contralateral carotid angiography was carried out as well as an EEG and xenon-133 blood flow measurements. The procedure was carried out on seven patients, two showed a reduction in cerebral blood flow without EEG changes. In one patient the contralateral circulation could not be demonstrated by angiography. Carotid ligation was carried out in 5 of 7 patients. Neurological complications were not observed.