Intraoral stents in preventing adverse radiotherapeutic effects in lip cancer patients.

AIM: To fabricate and evaluate the efficacy of individualized intraoral stents to minimize the potential side effects of radiation on oral tissues in patients with early stages of lip cancer. BACKGROUND: Lower lip cancer is a common tumor found almost exclusively in middle-aged and elderly males. Surgery is the most common treatment of choice, although for less extensive lesions, exclusive radiotherapy may be preferred. Some studies have found that the use of intraoral stents in patients with intraoral cancer (e.g., of the tongue or floor of the mouth) obtained favorable results in preventing unnecessary radiation doses to adjacent normal tissue and reducing oral complications. However, studies investigating the efficacy of individualized intraoral stents in patients with lip cancer have not been reported in the literature. MATERIALS AND METHODS: Six patients with early stage lip cancer were eligible for curative radiotherapy and personalized intraoral stents. The stents were fabricated and all participants were evaluated for the occurrence of oral complications. RESULTS: The regions of the oral mucosa protected from radiation by intraoral stents showed no mucositis. One patient complained of mild oral dryness but without interference in habits. At follow-up, none of the patients had late xerostomia or signs of dental caries by radiation. CONCLUSIONS: The use of individualized intraoral stents was shown to be promising in reducing the adverse effects of radiation therapy in lip cancer patients. These findings highlight the importance of a multidisciplinary team during oncological therapy.

Hereditary gingival fibromatosis: clinical and ultrastructural features of a new family

OBJECTIVE: This article describes the diagnosis, clinical and microscopic (histopathology and ultrastructural) features and treatment of a new family with hereditary gingival fibromatosis (HGF) and highlights the importance of this genetic condition. Study DESIGN: To characterize the pattern of inheritance and the clinical features, members of a new family with HGF were examined. The pedigree was reliably constructed including the four latest generations of family. Hematoxylin and eosin staining and ultrastructural analysis were performed with the gingival tissue. RESULTS: Examination of the family pedigree revealed that the patient III-2 represent the index patient of this family(initial patient with a mutation), which was transmitted to her daughter through an autosomal dominant mode of inheritance. The affected patients showed a generalized gingival overgrowth. The patient was treated with surgical procedures of gingivectomy and gingivoplasty. The diagnosis was confirmed by histopathology examination that showed a well-structured epithelium with elongated and thin papillae inserted in fibrous connective tissue with increased amount of collagen. The ultrastructural aspects of the tissue show collagen fibrils exhibiting their typically repeating banding pattern with some fibrils displaying loops at their end. Moreover, it was possible to seen in some regions fibrillar component presenting tortuous aspects and loss of the alignment among them. CONCLUSIONS: This HGF frequently resulted in both esthetic and functional problems. The genetic pattern of this Brazilian family suggested a new mutation, which was later transmitted by an autosomal dominant trait

Hereditary gingival fibromatosis: clinical and ultrastructural features of a new family.

OBJECTIVE: This article describes the diagnosis, clinical and microscopic (histopathology and ultrastructural) features and treatment of a new family with hereditary gingival fibromatosis (HGF) and highlights the importance of this genetic condition. STUDY DESIGN: To characterize the pattern of inheritance and the clinical features, members of a new family with HGF were examined. The pedigree was reliably constructed including the four latest generations of family. Hematoxylin and eosin staining and ultrastructural analysis were performed with the gingival tissue. RESULTS: Examination of the family pedigree revealed that the patient III-2 represent the index patient of this family (initial patient with a mutation), which was transmitted to her daughter through an autosomal dominant mode of inheritance. The affected patients showed a generalized gingival overgrowth. The patient was treated with surgical procedures of gingivectomy and gingivoplasty. The diagnosis was confirmed by histopathology examination that showed a well-structured epithelium with elongated and thin papillae inserted in fibrous connective tissue with increased amount of collagen. The ultrastructural aspects of the tissue show collagen fibrils exhibiting their typically repeating banding pattern with some fibrils displaying loops at their end. Moreover, it was possible to seen in some regions fibrillar component presenting tortuous aspects and loss of the alignment among them. CONCLUSIONS: This HGF frequently resulted in both esthetic and functional problems. The genetic pattern of this Brazilian family suggested a new mutation, which was later transmitted by an autosomal dominant trait.

Peripheral ameloblastoma: a case report.

Peripheral ameloblastoma is a rare odontogenic soft tissue tumor, derived from epithelial and/or mesenchymal elements being part of the tooth-forming apparatus. The lesion responses for approximately 1% to 5% of all cases of ameloblastoma affecting alveolar mucosa and gingiva occur, mainly, in the middle age. This article describes a case of peripheral ameloblastoma involving a 20-year-old male located in the (upper/lower, vestibular/buccal) gingiva. After the case presentation, clinical and microscopic findings are discussed.