It was not possible to detect BRAF V600E mutation in circulating cell-free DNA from patients with ameloblastoma: A diagnostic accuracy study.

BACKGROUND: The objective of this study is to evaluate the diagnostic accuracy of plasma-based liquid biopsy for the detection of the BRAF V600E mutation in circulating cell-free DNA from patients with ameloblastoma. METHODS: This is a prospective diagnostic accuracy study conducted based on the Standards for Reporting Diagnostic Accuracy recommendations. The index test was the plasma-based liquid biopsy, whereas the reference standard was the conventional tissue biopsy. The target condition was the detection of BRAF V600E mutation. The study population consisted of individuals with ameloblastoma recruited from three tertiary hospitals from Brazil. A negative control group composed of three individuals with confirmed wild-type BRAF lesions were included. The participants underwent plasma circulating cell-free DNA and tumor tissue DNA isolation, and both were submitted to using competitive allele-specific TaqMan™ real-time polymerase chain reaction technology mutation detection assays. Sensitivity and specificity measures and positive and negative predictive values were calculated. RESULTS: Twelve patients with conventional ameloblastoma were included. BRAF V600E mutation was detected in 11/12 (91.66%) ameloblastoma tissue samples. However, the mutation was not detected in any of the plasma-based liquid biopsy circulating cell-free DNA samples in both ameloblastomas and negative control group. The sensitivity and specificity of plasma-based liquid biopsy for the detection of the BRAF V600E mutation in circulating cell-free DNA was 0.0 and 1.0, respectively. The agreement between index test and reference standard results was 26.66%. CONCLUSION: Plasma-based liquid biopsy does not seem to be an accurate method for the detection of the BRAF V600E mutation in circulating circulating cell-free DNA from patients with ameloblastoma, regardless of tumor size, anatomic location, recurrence status, and other clinicopathological features.

Pentoxifylline, tocopherol, and sequestrectomy are effective for the management of advanced osteoradionecrosis of the jaws-a case series.

BACKGROUND: The aim of the present study was to evaluate the efficacy of pentoxifylline and tocopherol for the management of osteoradionecrosis of the jaws. METHODS: Twenty-five patients diagnosed with osteoradionecrosis of the jaws treated with pentoxifylline 400 mg + tocopherol 400 mg three times daily (tid) were evaluated. Clinical records and image tests were reviewed. All patients were previously submitted to head and neck radiation therapy and presented with a clinical and radiographic diagnosis of osteoradionecrosis of the jaws. RESULTS: Following therapy with pentoxifylline and tocopherol, 76% (19/25) of the patients showed complete mucosal healing, in which 47.3% (9/19) did not undergo sequestrectomy. From this particular group, 77.7% (7/9) were in stage I and 33.3% (3/9) used the protocol for up to 3 months. Among those who underwent to sequestrectomy, complete mucosal healing was observed in 52.7% (10/19). Among these, 60% (6/10) were in stage I and 100% of the patients were using the protocol for more than 3 months. In all other patients, partial healing of the mucosa was observed since they presented advanced disease. These represented 24% of the sample (6/25), 66.6% (4/6) were in stage III, and 60% (4/6) used the protocol for over 6 months. CONCLUSION: Pentoxifylline and tocopherol may provide effective management of osteoradionecrosis of the jaws, and the association with sequestrectomy may avoid major surgical procedures.

Myxoma of the mandibular condyle: Report of a rare case and review of the literature.

This report describes an extremely rare case of myxoma of the mandibular condyle. The tumor occurred in the left mandibular condyle of a 42-year-old woman, which was identified in a routine radiographic examination. The clinico-radiographic and histopathological features, and histogenesis of the lesion are discussed. A review of the literature and differential diagnosis of radiolucent condylar lesions are also presented.

Psammomatoid juvenile ossifying fibroma: case study and a review.

BACKGROUND: The group of fibro-osseous lesions from the maxillofacial region is very heterogeneous, but what they all have in common is the substitution of normal bone by fibroblasts with the consequent formation of collagen fibers, as well as substitution by different types of mineralized tissues which may be similar to bone or cement. Within this group of lesions, the juvenile ossifying fibroma is found, considered a rare and recurrent benign fibro-osseous neoplasia. The term juvenile ossifying fibroma has been used in the literature to describe two histopathological variations of conventional ossifying fibroma. These variations are trabecular juvenile ossifying fibroma and psammomatoid juvenile ossifying fibroma. Psammomatoid juvenile ossifying fibroma is an uncommon bone-forming neoplasm with aggressive local growth. Diagnostic of this lesion occurs after the correlation of clinical, imaging, and histopathological findings. Proposed treatments range from enucleation and curettage to resection of the tumor. OBJECTIVES: The present article has as its objectives to report an uncommon case of a 4-year-old male patient treated by conservative approach and revise the literature on juvenile ossifying fibroma. CONCLUSIONS: Psammomatoid juvenile ossifying fibroma, for its being very uncommon, warrants further investigation in order to establish the best treatment, principally in children, with a view to minimizing mutilating treatments. In the case examined, a conservative treatment was chosen, where the surgeon established curette and cryotherapy, and the reintegration of the child in his social environment, without relapse during the first year of therapy.