Maxillary squamous cell carcinoma: diagnosis and evolution of an inoperable case

Introduction: Squamous cell carcinoma (SCC) is a malignant neoplasia, originating from the oral lining epithelium, responsible for approximately 90-95% of malignancies in this location. Incidence and mortality rates for oral SCC may vary due to personal habits, socioeconomic characteristics, environmental factors and quality of health care. This study reports the aggressive evolution of SCC with a delayed diagnosis and the impossibility of immediate curative therapy. Case report: A 47-year-old brown male patient, smoker and drinker was referred by a primary health care center to the Stomatology Clinic at UFPR (Federal University of Paraná). The diagnosis of well-differentiated SCC was confirmed by histopathological examination. The patient was referred to a specialized service where an oncology team defined the case as inoperable due to lung function limitations and advanced tumor staging. The patient underwent lung physiotherapy sessions until reaching clinical conditions to undergo oncologic therapy which included radiotherapy and chemotherapy. Conclusion: The reported case highlights the importance of establishing an early diagnosis for SCC. There is a need of facilitating and speeding the access to both health care services and information that lead patients to seek professional assistance as soon as the first disease signs appear.

Taste evaluation in adolescents and pediatric patients with benign migratory glossitis.

OBJECTIVE: Benign migratory glossitis (BMG) is a disease that affects the tongue and is considered an inflammatory disorder well recognized. It is characterized by the appearance of erosive areas on the dorsum and lateral border of the tongue that can be isolated or multiple. The aim of this study was to assess whether the perception of taste to the four basic tastes is altered due to the presence of BMG. METHODS: Forty individuals of both sexes with a mean age of 12.1 years were divided into two groups (20 BMG patients and 20 healthy controls) and had their taste function assessed in relation to four basic tastes: bitter, sour, sweet, and salty. RESULTS: All participants in the case group exhibited lesions over the dorsum, edges and tip of the tongue with a possible extension to the surface below. No statistic difference was observed between BMG patients and controls for the taste scores (Mann-Whitney U test: P=0.0955). The percentage of correctly identified taste strips for the highest concentrations was 100% for all tastes. For the lowest concentrations it was 85% for sweet, 50% for sour, 95% for salty, and 95% for bitter. Three patients with BMG and three control subjects showed hypogeusia. CONCLUSION: This study revealed that BMG is not able to change the perception of taste for salty, sweet, sour and bitter.