Osteosarcoma as a second neoplasm after chemotherapeutic treatment of hereditary retinoblastoma: a case report.

Osteosarcoma is the most common second neoplasm in patients with retinoblastoma. The risk of occurrence of second neoplasm after retinoblastoma increases after radiotherapy and chemotherapy. A case is presented of an 11-year-old girl who had painless swelling on the left side of her face for 8 days. The patient was asymptomatic before the onset of the swelling. Biopsy of the lesion revealed tumor cells forming trabeculae of osteoid and woven bone interspersed with myxoid and cartilaginous areas. The tumor cells showed pleomorphism and hyperchromatism with increased and abnormal mitotic figures consistent with the diagnosis of osteosarcoma. Further investigations revealed no history of retinoblastoma in the family. (This case was considered hereditary, however, because of the occurrence of the second neoplasm.) To the best of our knowledge, this is the first case of mandibular osteosarcoma occurring after unilateral retinoblastoma treated with chemotherapy.

Quantitative role of mast cells in odontogenic cystic enlargement

Aim: Mast cells have been hypothesized to play a significant role in pathogenesis of odontogenic cysts. The aim of this study was to evaluate mast cell distribution in cystic lining and the capsule to formulate a mechanism of cystic expansion. Methods: Ten formalin-fixed paraffin embedded tissue blocks each of OKC, dentigerous and radicular cysts were selected. Toluidine blue staining (1% in 1% NaCl solution) was done in 5µm thick sections and counting performed in 10 areas using an ocular grid. Areas counted were divided into 4 zones: intraepithelial, subepithelial, intermediate and deep zones (Group I, II, III and IV respectively). Statistical analysis: Mean ±S.D. was calculated in each group followed by paired ‘T’ test. Results: Mast cells had greatest concentration in subepithelial zone. ‘T’ test showed no significant differences between group I and II zones in OKC but a highly significant difference between groups I and II in dentigerous cyst. Radicular cysts showed a significant difference between groups II and III. Conclusion: Mast cell degranulation releases numerous hydrolytic enzymes that facilitate breakdown of capsular matrix increasing the hydrostatic pressure due to raised osmolality. Influx of tissue fluids results in their enlargement coupled with resorption at the bone-cyst interface.

Micronucleus--an upcoming marker of genotoxic damage.

This study was conceived for the early detection of oral precancer and cancer lesions using a noninvasive reliable technique. Micronucleus assay was performed on oral exfoliated cells of chosen subjects having leukoplakia and squamous cell carcinoma (SCC) using fluorescent (Acridine Orange) and conventional (Feulgen) stainings. The results were analyzed using Mann-Whitney U test, Kruskal-Wallis test, Spearman's Correlation and SPSS statistical package. The frequency of mean percentage occurrence of micronucleated cells increased significantly in comparison to controls with leukoplakia and squamous cell carcinoma. Subjects with synergism of abnormal oral habits also showed increased micronucleated cells. Fluorescent staining was found to be more sensitive than the conventional one for micronucleus detection. The results clearly demonstrate that micronucleus assay in oral exfoliated cells can be used as a simple reliable marker to assess the genotoxicity and for the early diagnosis of premalignant and malignant lesions. Micronucleus assay is, thus, an easy tool for early detection of cancer.

Osteoblastoma of maxilla with cartilaginous matrix: review of literature and report of a case.

Osteoblastoma is a rare benign neoplasm of jaws. We report a case of a recurrent osteoblastoma in the maxilla of a 34-year-old male who presented with aggressive clinical and histologic features: namely root resorption, tooth mobility, involvement of maxillary sinus, chondroid formation, host bone trapping, and lack of osteoblastic rimming. The lesion is discussed with particular emphasis on its differentiation from malignant lesions especially low-grade osteosarcoma. A systematic review of other reported cases of osteoblastoma of jaws with a note on the recurrent cases has been put forth.

Atypical presentation of oral tuberculosis ulcer.

Tuberculosis is a chronic infectious disease that can affect any part of the body, including the mouth. An upsurge in the number of tuberculosis cases, with a strong association with HIV infection, has been noted. We present a case of tuberculosis that clinically resembles a malignant chronic ulcer in the retromolar trigone-an uncommon site of occurrence. Histologically, the case demonstrated an atypical epitheloid granuloma with reduced lymphocyte count. The diagnosis of tuberculosis was confirmed following sputum culture of M tuberculosis. Antitubercular therapy improved the patient's condition. Although rare, tuberculosis must be considered as a differential diagnosis in chronic ulcers in the oral region; and its association with HIV must not be overlooked.

Histochemical analysis of pathological alterations in oral lichen planus and oral lichenoid lesions.

Lichen planus is a dermatologic disease of unknown etiology characterized by keratotic plaques on the skin. Many patients also harbor white lesions of the oral mucosa. The literature contains numerous reports of lichen planus-like lesions evolving in conjunction with the administration of a variety of pharmacologic agents. It is difficult, if not impossible, to distinguish such lesions from one another. The present study evaluated the epithelial and basement membrane thickness, mast cells (intact cells and degranulated cells subepithelially) and the presence or absence of blood vessels in oral lichen planus and oral lichenoid lesions. The evaluation was done using the periodic acid-schiff (PAS) and toluidine blue staining techniques on 20 cases each of oral lichen planus and oral lichenoid lesions and 5 control specimens of normal buccal mucosa. The results showed an increased number of degranulated mast cells in areas of basement membrane degeneration, increased vascularity and increased PAS-positive basement membrane thickness in oral lichen planus as compared with oral lichenoid lesions. Reduced epithelial thickness was found in oral lichen planus. The present study emphasizes the importance of these parameters in differentiating oral lichen planus from oral lichenoid lesions using special staining techniques.