Optimal time to definitive enucleation of large cysts following marsupialization: A single center, retrospective study.

OBJECTIVES: Optimal time to enucleation following marsupialization of large odontogenic mandibular cysts is undefined. We aim to assess volume reduction throughout follow-up, to indicate optimal time to enucleation. Secondary objectives include the identification of factors influencing cyst reduction. STUDY DESIGN: We retrospectively enrolled 15 patients with mandibular cysts of different histological types treated with marsupialization at our center between 2018 and 2022. Cyst volume was assessed with cone-beam computed tomography (CBCT) and a semi-automatic segmentation algorithm, at baseline and between 6 and 8 months post marsupialization. RESULTS: The overall mean cyst volume reduction percent (VR%) was 57.7 % or 0.2 % per day. VR% at 8 months was significantly higher than those assessed at 6 and 7 months (67.1% vs 47.1 %, p = 0.003). Time to CBCT was the only independent variable influencing cyst VR%. CONCLUSION: Our study proves that the optimal time to enucleation for mandibular cyst is 8 months, independent of histological cyst type, patient age, baseline cyst volume and the number of pre-operative residual bone walls.

Metabolic Profile of Whole Unstimulated Saliva in Patients with Sjögren's Syndrome.

Primary Sjögren's Syndrome (pSS) is a multi-system autoimmune disease that involves the exocrine glands. Lymphocytes infiltrate the gland tissue, leading to anatomical modification and hypofunction. Even if the prognosis of pSS is favorable, quality of life is typically reduced due to the diverse manifestations of the disease. The aim of this study is to compare the salivary metabolomes of pSS with healthy controls (HCs). Seven cases were selected from a cohort of pSS patients, and six age- and sex-matched HCs were recruited from a cohort of volunteers. Whole unstimulated saliva was collected for NMR analysis. Our metabolomic analysis focused on 360 ms total echo 1D 1H NMR CPMG spectra. Metabolites detected with CPMG NMR spectra were assigned through 2D NMR spectra (COSY, TOCSY, and HSQC). About 50 metabolites were detected and assigned. Unsupervised exploratory PCA returned partial clustering, and PLS-DA improved the separation between pSS and HCs, highlighting a pool of metabolites distinctly describing each group. Despite the limited number of samples, the presented preliminary data are promising. PLS-DA indicated well-defined group separation, suggesting that the application of 1H-NMR metabolomics is suitable for the study of pSS.

The epidemiology of oral cancer during the COVID-19 pandemic in Northern Italy: Incidence, survival, prevalence.

Despite novel treatment approaches, oral cancer survival has not improved significantly and the disease often presents a disabling path for patients. The aim of this work was to describe the epidemiological data of oral cancers in a province of northern Italy. Incident cases in the period 1996-2020 and EU population standardized rates were reported for Oral Cavity cancer (OC) and OroPharyngeal cancer (OP). Annual percent changes (APC) were estimated with joint point analysis. The 5-year survival was calculated in three different periods: 1996-2000, 2001-2010 and 2011-2015. From 1996 to 2020, 771 cases of oral cancers (442 OC and 329 OP) were recorded with the age-standardized incidence rate 7.28 (10.74 in males and 3.97 in females): 3.82 for OC and 3.47 for OP. In males there is a significant increase in the incidence of OP up to 2017 (APC 11; 95% CI, 4.9-17.5), which then decreases; in females the rates are constant. In 2020 (the era of Covid-19), we did not see a decline in incidence compared to 2019. The 5-year survival (for cases diagnosed in 2011-2015) was 55.6%, 56.5% and 56% for OC, OP and OC + OP, respectively; it was somewhat higher in females and was undergoing some changes over the course of years. The number of prevalent cases as of 1 January 2021 is 314 (175 OC, 139 OP). The study showed a decline in cancers in men, particularly for OP; survival shows improvement in the long-term examined; Covid-19 had no negative impact on 2020 diagnoses.

Histological changes in odontogenic parakeratinized keratocysts treated with marsupialization followed by enucleation

BACKGROUND: The purpose of this study was to evaluate whether marsupialization treatment induces changes in the histology of odontogenic keratocyst epithelium and to compare our experience with the literature. MATERIAL AND METHODS: A retrospective revision of histological samples was performed. 5 patients with odontogen-ic keratocyst treated with marsupialization follow by enucleation were selected. Histologic evaluation analyzed the changes in the keratocyst epithelium after marsupialization in terms of type of keratinization, thickness of the epithelium and connective tissue, the presence of acanthosis, the presence and grade of fibrosis, the type and grade of inflammation and the presence and number of mitotic figures and daughter cysts. RESULTS: In our case series, a variation of para-keratinized into ortho-keratinized keratocyst was found in one case, and no significant increases were observed in the epithelium and capsule thickness, or even in the level of inflammation. However, we observed an increase in fibrosis and qualitative changes in inflammation type. CONCLUSIONS: Minor and major histological changes were associated with reduction in cyst volume, which resulted in a simpler and less invasive cystic enucleation after marsupialization

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Metabolic Profiles of Whole, Parotid and Submandibular/Sublingual Saliva.

The detection of salivary molecules associated with pathological and physiological alterations has encouraged the search of novel and non-invasive diagnostic biomarkers for oral health evaluation. While genomic, transcriptomic, and proteomic profiles of human saliva have been reported, its metabolic composition is a topic of research: metabolites in submandibular/sublingual saliva have never been analyzed systematically. In this study, samples of whole, parotid, and submandibular/sublingual saliva from 20 healthy donors, without dental or periodontal diseases, were examined by nuclear magnetic resonance. We identified metabolites which are differently distributed within the three saliva subtypes (54 in whole, 49 in parotid, and 36 in submandibular/sublingual saliva). Principal component analysis revealed a distinct cluster for whole saliva and a partial overlap for parotid and submandibular/sublingual metabolites. We found exclusive metabolites for each subtype: 2-hydroxy-3-methylvalerate, 3-methyl-glutarate, 3-phenylpropionate, 4-hydroxyphenylacetate, 4-hydroxyphenyllactate, galactose, and isocaproate in whole saliva; caprylate and glycolate in submandibular/sublingual saliva; arginine in parotid saliva. Salivary metabolites were classified into standard and non-proteinogenic amino acids and amines; simple carbohydrates; organic acids; bacterial-derived metabolites. The identification of a salivary gland-specific metabolic composition in healthy people provides the basis to invigorate the search for salivary biomarkers associated with oral and systemic diseases.

Autologous Fat Grafting for the Oral and Digital Complications of Systemic Sclerosis: Results of a Prospective Study.

BACKGROUND: Systemic sclerosis is a connective tissue disease. Skin involvement of the mouth and hand may compromise function and quality of life. Autologous fat grafting has been described as a specific treatment of these clinical features. We report the results of our prospective study designed to treat and prevent skin complications in systemic sclerosis. MATERIALS AND METHODS: We treated 25 patients with mouth and/or hand involvement (microstomia, xerostomia, skin sclerosis, Raynaud's phenomenon and long-lasting digital ulcers) with autologous fat grafting, according to the Coleman's technique, around the mouth and/or at the base of each finger. The surgical procedures were repeated in each patient every 6 months for a total of two or three times. Clinical data were collected before the first surgery and again 6 months after each surgical procedure. Pain, skin thickness, saliva production and disability were assessed with validated tests. RESULTS: Overall we performed 63 autologous fat grafting sessions (either on the mouth, on the hands or on both anatomical areas). Results at 6 moths after the last session included improvement of xerostomia evaluated with a sialogram, reduction of the skin tension around the mouth and, in the hands, reduction of the Raynaud phenomenon as well as skin thickness. Pain was reduced while the perception of disability improved. Digital ulcers healed completely in 8/9 patients. CONCLUSIONS: Our results confirm the efficacy and safety of autologous fat grafting for the treatment of skin complications and digital ulcers due to systemic sclerosis. In addition, the patients' subjective well-being improved. Level of evidence V This journal requires that authors assign a level of evidence to each article. For a full description of these Evidence-Based Medicine ratings, please refer to the Table of Contents or the online Instructions to Authors www.springer.com/00266 .

Salivary MicroRNA for Diagnosis of Cancer and Systemic Diseases: A Systematic Review.

: Background: The aberrant expression of microRNAs (miRNAs) has been associated with several diseases, including cancer, inflammatory, and autoimmune conditions. Interest in salivary miRNAs as non-invasive tools for the diagnosis of malignancies and systemic diseases is rapidly increasing. The present systematic review was developed for answering the question: "Are salivary microRNAs reliable biomarkers for diagnosis of cancer and systemic diseases?" METHODS: The application of inclusion and exclusion criteria led to the selection of 11 papers. Critical appraisals and quality assessments of the selected studies were performed through the National Institute of Health "Study Quality Assessment Tool" and the classification of the Oxford Center for Evidence-Based Medicine. RESULTS: Seven studies reported statistically significant correlations between one or more salivary miRNAs and the investigated disease. The critical analysis allowed us to classify only two studies (18.2%) as having "good" quality, the rest being scored as "intermediate" (8; 73%) and "poor" (1; 9%). Evidence exists that salivary miR-940 and miR-3679-5p are reliable markers for pancreatic cancer and that miR140-5p and miR301a are promising molecules for the salivary diagnosis of gastric cancer. CONCLUSIONS: Further studies, possibly avoiding the risk of bias highlighted here, are necessary to consolidate these findings and to identify new reliable salivary biomarkers.

Self-healing CD30- T-clonal proliferation of the tongue: report of an extremely rare case.

BACKGROUND: The etiology of traumatic ulcerative granulomas with stromal eosinophilia (TUGSE) is not clear, traumatic irritation having advocated as the most likely cause. TUGSEs are typically self-limiting slow-healing lesions of the oral mucosa with unclear pathogenesis, commonly manifesting as a rapidly developing, long-lasting ulcer. CASE PRESENTATION: Here we report a controversial case of a self-healing lesion of the tongue in a 57 year-old woman. A clonal T-cell proliferation and CD30 negative immunohistochemical (IHC) profile could be documented. DISCUSSION AND CONCLUSION: In view of the very peculiar clinical and histological features, a retrospective diagnosis of a TUGSE with scarce eosinophilic infiltrate (possibly in regression), displaying CD30- T-clonal proliferation was eventually rendered. The patient did not report signs of recurrence after a 3-year follow-up period.

Epithelioid hemangioendothelioma of the mandibular gingiva: A rare case of metastasis 4 years after radical excision and literature review.

Malignant epithelioid hemangioendothelioma (MEH), or high-risk epithelioid hemangioendothelioma, is a low- to intermediate-grade vascular malignancy. A few cases of MEH have been documented in the head and neck region, including the neck, thyroid gland, larynx and scalp. MEHs are extremely rare in the oral cavity. Only 31 cases of MEH in the oral cavity were described in English literature between 1975 and 2014. Further, only eleven cases were referred to MEH of the maxillary or mandibular gingiva. No gingival MEH metastases have been described in literature. We report a literature review and a case of MEH with a metastatic occurrence 4 years after surgical excision.

Guidance flap choice for lip cancer: Principles, timing and esthetic-functional results / Guía para la elección del colgajo en el cáncer de labio: principios, tiempos, resultados estéticos y funcionales

The purpose of this study is to help in the choice of an appropriate reconstructive technique by reference to the dimensions of the defect, the required functional and esthetic outcomes, and retention of adequate surgical safety margins to prevent primary tumor recurrence. Material and methods. A total of 158 patients were treated. We indicate how the most appropriate reconstructive method may be chosen, with reference to the size and position of the cancer and depth of tissue infiltration. Result. Of all patients, 89 (56.3%) had T1 (lesions up to 2 cm long, less than 1/3). The remaining patients had T2 lesions >2 cm, from 1/3 to 2/3 of lip involvement (50 patients), T3 lesions >4 cm, more than 2/3 of lip involvement (18), and a T4 lesion > 5.5 cm with commissure involvement (1). Conclusion. We share the widespread view that a surgeon who performs a reconstruction using the minimal tissue components required to close the lesion will achieve the best results. Reconstruction does not influence prognosis and overall should be oriented to the defect. Careful, clean, and safe resection of lip carcinoma, with creation of healthy margins, can be followed by functional and esthetic lip reconstruction (AU)

El objetivo de este estudio es orientar al cirujano en la correcta elección de una técnica reconstructiva según la dimensión del defecto, de los resultados estéticos-funcionales necesarios y tendente a conservar los margenes quirúrgicos de seguridad indispensables para prevenir la recidiva del tumor primitivo. Materiales y métodos. Analizaremos los casos de cáncer de labio tratados en 158 pacientes, indicaremos el método apropiado para la reconstrucción con referencia a la dimensión y localización del cáncer, y a la profundidad del tejido infiltrado. Resultados. De todos los pacientes que hemos analizado, 89 (56,3%) pertenecían al grupo clasificado como T1 (lesiones hasta 2 cm de largo, menos de 1/3 del labio implicado), 50 pacientes pertenecían al grupo T2 (lesiones > 2 cm, desde 1/3 hasta 2/3 del labio involucrado), 18 pacientes pertenecían al grupo T3 (lesiones > 4 cm, más de 2/3 de labio implicado) y un paciente pertenecía al grupo T4 (lesiones > 5,5 cm, con la comisura incluida). Conclusión. Coincidimos con la idea de que el cirujano reconstruye utilizando la cantidad mínima de tejido para corregir la deformidad y obtener los mejores resultados, pero la reconstrucción no puede influir en el pronóstico, solo debe orientar el tipo de defecto. Una extirpación segura de el tumor del labio, meticulosa, con el mantenimiento de los márgenes sanos, debe ser complementada con una cirugía reconstructiva del labio en su totalidad, es decir, en toda su estética y su funcionalidad (AU)