Oral inflammation, a role for antimicrobial peptide modulation of cytokine and chemokine responses.

Acute and chronic inflammation commonly occurs throughout the oral cavity. The most common causes are physical damage and microbial infections, and less frequently immune reactions and malignant changes. All of these processes result in the induction of antimicrobial peptides, chemokines and cytokines that lead to cellular infiltrates, a vascular response, tissue destruction and cellular proliferation. A fascinating concept developing in the current literature suggests that antimicrobial peptides modulate the production of chemokines, cytokines and other cellular mediators and that this may have a larger ramification as an underlying mechanism mediating inflammation. Here, we propose that the ability of antimicrobial peptides to induce chemokines and anti-inflammatory or proinflammatory cytokines plays an important role in the early events of oral inflammation and may be a target for the prevention or treatment of oral inflammatory conditions.

Keratocystic odontogenic tumor: a retrospective analysis of genetic, immunohistochemical and therapeutic features. Proposal of a multicenter clinical survey tool.

OBJECTIVE: In 2005, the World Health Organization reclassified the parakeratinizing odontogenic keratocyst as a neoplasm. This article reviews the research leading to this reclassification, and validates a new survey tool that can be easily used to pool surgical and recurrence data from multiple offices. STUDY DESIGN: All odontogenic lesions accessioned in the Iowa Surgical Oral Pathology Laboratory between 1949 and 2010 were identified from the database. A survey tool to assess treatment and follow-up was created. A total of 46 surgeons agreed to participate. RESULTS: A total of 70 keratocystic odontogenic tumors (KOTs) had documented recurrences at follow-up intervals ranging from 6 months to 5 years. Primary tumors that recurred ranged in size as measured by greatest radiographic diameter from 0.7 to 6 cm. CONCLUSIONS: This survey tool is recommended as standard allowing treatment of cases by multiple practitioners to be compared retrospectively or prospectively.

Incidental findings on cone beam computed tomography images.

Background. Cone beam computed tomography (CBCT) has gained widespread acceptance in dentistry for a variety of applications. Most dentists who are not radiologists/trained in radiology are generally not familiar with interpretation of anatomical structures and/or pathosis outside their area of primary interest, as often this was not within the scope of their training. Objectives. To assess that the number of incidental findings on a CBCT scan is high both within and outside of the primary area of interest, thereby emphasizing the importance of interpretation of all areas visualized on the scan. Materials and Methods. An oral and maxillofacial radiologist reviewed 1000 CBCT scans (382 males and 618 females) for findings both in- and outside the area of interest. Results. Of the 1000 subjects that were reviewed, 943 scans showed findings in the primary regions of interest and/or outside the regions of interest, and 76 different conditions were visualized in these scans both in and outside the areas of interest. Conclusion. From the wide scope of findings noted on these scans, it can be concluded that it is essential that a person trained in advanced interpretation techniques in radiology interprets cone beam computed tomography scans.

Squamous-cell carcinoma arising from an odontogenic cyst--the importance of computed tomography in the diagnosis of malignancy.

Primary intraosseous carcinoma of the mandible is rare, and when it occurs often arises within or closely associated with an odontogenic cyst. The purpose of this article is to show the role of computed tomography (CT) in the early detection of carcinomatous changes, because of its specificity in establishing the nature of the lesion. An unusual case of a squamous cell carcinoma that arose in an odontogenic cyst is described. The appearance on the panoramic radiograph was suggestive of a benign cystic lesion in the left side of the mandible, but when a CT scan was performed, the appearance of the lesion was compatible with malignancy. Histopathological analysis confirmed the suspicion of a squamous cell carcinoma, but without CT investigation it would be impossible to demonstrate that carcinomatous change had developed from a cystic lesion.