Innocuous presentation of ameloblastic carcinoma

Ameloblastic carcinoma is a rare malignant odontogenic neoplasm that exhibits diverse clinical and radiological presentations. In fact there are several differential diagnoses during histopathological evaluation too. Lack of adequate reports could not establish the predominant demographic, clinical and radiological presentations. For the same reasons, the role of adjuvant radiotherapy and chemotherapy is also unsubstantiated yet. This case discusses the innocuous clinical and radiological presentation of ameloblastic carcinoma in a 55-year-old man where the diagnostic confirmation was achieved through histopathological evaluation. The differential diagnoses, treatment and follow-up details of this case are discussed in light of the previous published case reports and systematic reviews of case reports in an attempt to increase the sensitisation among dentists towards ameloblastic carcinoma.

Short-Term Outcomes following Virtual Surgery-Assisted Immediate Dental Implant Placement in Free Fibula Flaps for Oncologic Mandibular Reconstruction

BACKGROUND

Despite reports demonstrating feasibility of immediate dental implant placement in mandibular reconstruction with free fibula flaps for benign disease, this practice is not routinely used in the oncologic setting. The authors aim to demonstrate the safety of immediate dental implant placement for oncologic mandible reconstruction.

METHODS

In 2017, the authors' center began immediate dental implant placement in free fibula flaps for oncologic patients undergoing mandibulectomy reconstruction. Immediate dental implant placement patients were compared to a historical cohort also reconstructed with computer-aided design and manufacturing technology beginning in 2011 (n = 34) as a noninferiority study design. Primary outcomes of interest included 90-day complications, time to radiotherapy, and time to and number of patients achieving dental restoration.

RESULTS

Sixty-one patients underwent free fibula flaps following mandibulectomy using computer-aided design and manufacturing. Seventy-two dental implants were placed in the immediate dental implant placement cohort (n = 27). No differences were noted in major or minor 90-day complications between groups (p > 0.05). Radiotherapy was required in 55 percent in the immediate dental implant placement cohort versus 62 percent in the historical cohort, with no significant difference in time to radiotherapy (67.6 days versus 62.2 days, respectively). One dental implant was removed for nonosseointegration noted during vestibuloplasty. Fourteen (51.8 percent) immediate dental implant patients had complete dental restoration at 90 days compared with none in the historical cohort (p < 0.05).

CONCLUSIONS

Immediate dental implant placement is a safe procedure with an unchanged short-term complication profile and no delay in radiotherapy initiation. Patients undergoing immediate dental implant placement are more likely to complete full dental rehabilitation. Long-term and health-related quality-of-life outcomes remain to be determined.

CLINICAL QUESTION/LEVEL OF EVIDENCE

Therapeutic, III.

Sarcomas of the mandible

INTRODUCTION

Sarcomas of the mandible are extremely rare tumors, with osteosarcoma being the most common, followed by Ewing's sarcoma MATERIALS AND METHODS: A retrospective review of the clinical records, imaging studies, and pathology slides of patients with sarcoma of the mandible at a Tertiary Care Cancer Center from 1998 to 2014 was undertaken. The impact of neoadjuvant chemotherapy and postoperative radiotherapy with or without chemotherapy was studied, and factors impacting upon local control and disease-specific survival were analyzed.

RESULTS

Twenty-two patients were treated over the study period, comprising of 15 males and seven females. External swelling, intraoral growth, or facial numbness were the presenting symptoms. Eighteen patients had osteosarcoma and four had the Ewing's sarcoma. Nine patients received neoadjuvant chemotherapy. All but one patient underwent surgery. Eleven had negative margins, with 90% recurrence-free survival at 3 years, compared to 10 with positive or close margins, leading to 67% recurrence-free survival. None of the patients receiving neoadjuvant chemotherapy developed recurrence and all were alive at 3 years. The impact of postoperative radiotherapy or adjuvant chemotherapy was not statistically significant.

CONCLUSIONS

Wide surgical resection with negative margins remains the hallmark of surgical treatment.

Treatment of a calcifying epithelial odontogenic tumour with tube decompression: a case report

Conservative treatment of odontogenic tumours with decompression or marsupialisation is not common, but can be done successfully in those with a cystic pattern. We present a calcifying epithelial odontogenic tumour that was treated by tube decompression and subsequent enucleation.

Ameloblastic Fibro-Odontoma

The ameloblastic fibro-odontoma (AFO) is a rare, mixed odontogenic tumor exhibiting the histological characters of the ameloblastic fibroma and complex odontoma. It is comprised of proliferating ectodermal and mesenchymal components of odontogenic tissue as well as enamel and dentin. AFO normally presents as an asymptomatic swelling of the posterior maxilla or mandible and is usually associated with developing teeth, occurring predominantly in children and adolescents. Such lesions are generally found upon radiographic examination of patients whose tooth eruption is delayed. This lesion often includes an unerupted permanent tooth, and extraction of this tooth is a common treatment. The purpose of this report is to describe an AFO in the posterior mandible of a nine-year-old girl for whom enucleation was performed under general anesthesia without extracting the displaced permanent mandibular left second molar. Two years later, the tooth erupted into occlusion without tumor recurrence.

Jaw bones regeneration using mesenchymal stem cells. A single-center experience

PURPOSE

Mesenchymal stem cells (MSC), which are multipotent stromal cells, are considered to be a promising resource in tissue engineering and tissue regeneration. MSCs have been used to generate new maxillary bone with clinically successful results. The aim of this study was to determine the role of MSC in bone regeneration procedures in patients with benign maxillary lesions.

METHODS

A study was conducted on five patients treated for maxillary bone defects resulting from biopsy of benign lesions at the University Hospital of Magna Græcia, Catanzaro, Italy from January 2015 to October 2016. MSC from autologous bone marrow were used for bone regeneration. The bone mineral density was compared, using the Hounsfield scale, before and after treatment. Follow-up was monthly for six months, and the patients underwent a computed tomography scan of the maxilla at 6 months.

RESULTS

Five patients, who underwent biopsy of osteolytic odontogenic benign tumors, were included in the study. There were no intraoperative or postoperative complications. The mean volume of the newly formed bone was 2.44cm3 (range 2,0-3,1) and the mean bone density was 1137 Hounsfield Units (range 898-1355).

CONCLUSIONS

Bone regeneration with MSC from autologous bone marrow appears to be a valid treatment option for maxillary bone defects.

KEY WORDS

Bone regeneration, Mesenchymal stem cells, BM-MSC, Upper jaw, Mandible.

Mandibule rehabilitation after embolization of hemangioma with implant overdenture using existing endosseous implants: A clinical report

PATIENT

A fifty-year-old man received embolization for mandibular hemangioma two years ago, and the surgeon had placed four implants in his mandible and made a removable denture upon the implants. His denture however fractured repeatedly in the past years. After examination and communication with the patient, an implant-assisted overdenture incorporating bar attachment combined ERA attachment and Locator abutment was re-fabricated. A sixteen months follow-up showed acceptable outcome.

DISCUSSION

There are some guidelines on design of implant over-denture, the site of implant will affect the final result. The unfavorable bone structure of mandibular hemangioma restricts the number and the site of implant, modification of design is essential to improve the final result.

CONCLUSION

Multi-disciplinary cooperation should be established for extensive edentulous case. Overlay type prosthesis incorporating several types of attachments can be suitable for complex case because of acceptable results and easy maintenance.

Argument for the conservative management of mandibular ameloblastomas

Ameloblastoma is a rare, benign, odontogenic tumour that affects the mandible more commonly than the maxilla. Solid or multicytic variants are often resected and the defects reconstructed with a free flap. To establish the outcome after enucleation and application of Carnoy's solution, irrespective of histological subtype, we used the hospital's histology database to identify all the patients treated between 2001 and 2014 by one surgeon. Variables included patients' characteristics, histological subtype, radiological appearance, follow-up period, and incidence of recurrence. A total of 27 patients (13 male) were included, mean age 41 years (range 12-79). Fifteen (56%) had solid multicystic lesions, and there was an overall predominance of the follicular or plexiform variant, or both. Of the 23 preoperative radiographs that were available, 17 lesions were unicystic, 5 multilobular and scalloped with no septa, and one had aggressive features of multilocularity and a poorly defined peripheral margin. The mean duration of follow up was 38 months (range 3-156). Three patients had recurrence at 20, 27, and 35 months postoperatively, and each had repeat enucleation and application of Carnoy's solution. Reconstruction was not necessary, and to date none has recurred. This study shows the potential benefits of conservative surgery and sterilisation of the cystic cavity with Carnoy's solution. Recurrence is low, and with vigilant surveillance, similar repeat procedures have been effective when necessary. A longer follow-up period and larger numbers of patients are now needed to corroborate these findings.

Odontogenic myxoma in the paediatric patient: a review of eight cases

Paediatric odontogenic myxoma (OM) is a rare pathological condition in the oral and maxillofacial region. There has been much debate in the literature regarding the preferred method of treatment; however due to the rare nature of this disease, definitive algorithms of management are yet to be determined. A case series of eight paediatric patients with OM is presented. Six of the lesions were in the maxilla and two were mandibular lesions. The patients were aged between 2 and 18 years. Treatment ranged from excision and the application of Carnoy's solution to segmental resection and reconstruction. From this case series it can be seen that even in situations where treatment was limited to excision and the application of Carnoy's solution, no recurrences occurred. As such the present authors favour an initially more conservative approach to the management of these lesions where possible and reserving conventional resective treatment for recurrences, lesions causing pathological fracture, and those in regions that are difficult to access.

Leiomyosarcoma in the mandible: A rare case report

Leiomyosarcoma (LMS) is a malignancy which very rarely occurs in maxillofacial location, and the course of the disease is not very characteristic.In this case report, we present a 58-year-old female patient with a painless tumor of the left angle of the mandible causing slight asymmetry of the face. She also reported that she observed deterioration in fitting of the lower denture in the oral cavity for several months, which she had used successfully for 5 years.On the basis of clinical tests, histopatological examination, and imaging (CT, MRI, ultrasound, pantomography), the patient was diagnosed with primary malignant leiomyosarcoma (LMS) of the mandibular corpus and ramus on the left side. The patient received combined surgical and oncological treatment. The first stage was a surgery, and then adjuvant radiotherapy was applied on the site of the resected tumor-a total dose of 60 Gy in 35 fractions. The patient's postoperative course was uneventful. She also underwent adjuvant therapy well. In the period of 3-year follow-up, no signs of recurrence were observed.The findings may extend our knowledge and experiences in the treatment of leiomvosarcoma in the craniofacial area.

[Enlargement of mandibular canal and lower lip hypoesthesia revealing non-Hodgkin’s lymphoma of the mandible]

INTRODUCTION

Primary lymphoma of the mandible are rare and most often revealed by painless swelling. They are often confused with odontogenic lesions. Hence, their diagnosis is delayed. The authors report the case of an isolated mandibular lymphoma revealed by hypoesthesia of the lower lip and enlargement of the left mandibular canal.

CASE REPORT

A 35-year-old woman patient consulted for hemi-mandibular pain with episodes of left labial hypoesthesia. Clinically, we noted the presence of a vestibular tumor in front of tooth 34. A panoramic radiograph revealed that the left mandibular canal was widely enlarged, extending from the mandibular foramen to the mental foramen. The biopsy revealed a B-cell lymphoma. No other localization was found. After treatment with seven courses of a chemotherapy based on R-CHOP followed by local radiotherapy, the patient was in remission eighteen months after treatment.

DISCUSSION

Primitive lymphoma of the mandible are rare; they represent about 0.6% of extra-nodal non-Hodgkin lymphoma. They occur at any age and mainly affect males. They most often come out as a painless swelling, sometimes ulcerated in the mouth. They are often misdiagnosed as a dental problem. Treatment combines variably radiotherapy and/or chemotherapy. The prognosis of bone lymphoma is more favorable than others malignancies bone, with a survival rate of 40-50% at five years.

Mandible ameloblastoma with lung metastasis: a rare case report

BACKGROUND

The ameloblastoma is the most common odontogenic epithelial tumor, which belong to benign neoplasms that present a painless course, and usually occur in the oromaxillo-facial region. Although the histopathological manifestation of ameloblastoma is benign, it has unique biological behavior, for example local invasion and recurrence repeatedly. A few case of ameloblastoma was locally aggressive growth, and rarely metastasis to other tissue, for example the lungs, lymph nodes, and spine.

CASE REPORT

A 64-year-old Chinese man, diagnosed with metastatic ameloblastoma, was treated with palliative chemotherapy consisting of cyclophosphamide, doxorubicin, and cisplatin for six cycles, and radiotherapy for 50 Gy after the last cycle chemotherapy. During the surveillance CT scan after the therapy, the tissues of the tumor were nearly complete response.

CONCLUSION

The purpose of this study was to report a case of a patient with a right mandible ameloblastoma that recurred repeatedly and metastasized into bilateral lung. After the chemotherapy and radiotherapy, the tissues of the tumor were nearly complete response. This case is interesting because it investigated the diagnosis and treatment of the malignancy ameloblastoma, as this may help diagnose and treatment for clinician to the metastatic ameloblastoma.

Extensive carcinoma cuniculatum of the mandible

Carcinoma cuniculatum (CC) is a rare variant of squamous cell carcinoma first described in 1954. Cases of CC in the head and neck are exceedingly rare, with 66 cases reported since 1977. These tumors are generally low-grade, well-differentiated and locally aggressive malignancies. Patients are often subjected to a long period of misdiagnoses given the clinical similarity of these entities to odontogenic cysts and abscesses. We report a case of a carcinoma cuniculatum of the mandible with very advanced local involvement of disease, highlighting the unusual characteristics of this rare tumor that are important for clinicians to recognize. Clinical presentation, histology, risk factors, treatment options, and prognosis are also reviewed.

An oral clinical approach to Gorlin-Goltz syndrome

Gorlin-Goltz syndrome is a rare hereditary disease that can have negative effects on one's quality of life. The main clinical features are multiple nevoid basal cell carcinomas, odontogenic keratocysts, congenital skeletal abnormalities, calcification of the falx cerebri, facial dysmorphism, and skin depressions (pits) on the palms and soles. Diagnosis is based on major and minor clinical and radiological criteria and can be confirmed by DNA analysis. This article describes the case of a child with Gorlin-Goltz syndrome and outlines the clinical manifestations of the disease.

Is surgery always the best treatment for severe carotid stenosis in the frail elderly?

OBJECTIVES

Presentation of a case of carotid stenosis in an elderly patient with multiple co-morbidities, and its management.

METHODS

Pre-operative management of an elderly patient affected by carotid artery stenosis with cardiac, metabolic and renal comorbidities and a recent history of buccal squamous carcinoma.

RESULTS

Pre-operative anestesiologic assessment showed an increased risk for the presence of heart failure, cardiogenic pulmonary hypertension, mild/moderate stage renal disease.

CONCLUSION

The frail elderly represents a real challenge for the surgeon, because in choosing treatment other options must be taken into account both in view of local disease and of various systemic comorbidities.

Maxillofacial tumors and tumor-like lesions in a Nigerian teaching hospital: an eleven year retrospective analysis

BACKGROUND

This paper reviews the types, prevalence and demographic distribution of maxillofacial tumors, cysts and tumor-like lesions in a Nigerian population.

METHODS

A retrospective analysis of the medical records and histological reports of patients with oral and maxillofacial tumors and cystic lesions who presented to the Maxillofacial Unit of our institution over an eleven year period was undertaken. Information on demographics, histological diagnosis and clinical presentation were obtained and analyzed. A p value of less than 0.05 was considered significant.

RESULTS

A total o:f 146 patients, aged 5-70 years (mean 30.5± 12.9) were seen over the period of study. There were 96 males (65.8%) and 50 females (34.2%) giving a male to female ratio of almost 2:1. Benign tumors accounted for 124, 86.3% and malignant tumors (22, 13.7%). Ameloblastoma was the most prevalent benign tumor observed (53, 36.3%) while squamous cell carcinoma was the most common malignant tumor. The peak age of ameloblastoma was the fourth decade and squamous cell carcinomas the sixth and seventh decades of life. Jaw swellings were the most common presentation (98, 67.1%), followed by pain (23, 15.9). The duration of symptoms on presentation ranged from 1 to 96 months (mean 23.32 ±15.72) and this was not different for malignant or benign tumors (P=0.886).

CONCLUSION

Late presentation still remains the main challenging factor in the early detection and management of maxillofacial tumors in our environment. More awareness campaign is necessary, especially at the primary health care level, to educate the populace on the need for early presentation at treatment centers.

The approach of ameloblastoma of the mandible: a case treated by hyperbaric oxygen therapy and bone graft reconstruction

BACKGROUND

Reconstruction of mandibular defects after tumor resection is a challenge to the head and neck surgeon because of associated functional and esthetic problems. The intention of mandibular reconstructive surgery is to achieve maximum possible functionality, which means the restoration of masticatory function and speech with a good esthetic result. Hyperbaric oxygen therapy (HBO) is already a well-accepted adjunct in the treatment of extensive bone defects. It has been shown to enhance osteogenesis and improve soft tissue wound healing in a variety of circumstances.

CASE REPORT

The following case report describes a 29-year-old woman who was diagnosed with mandibular ameloblastoma. The treatment of choice is resection with mandibular base maintenance. The patient underwent 10 sessions of hyperbaric oxygen therapy and subsequent nonvascularized iliac crest graft. Six months after, mandibular reconstruction is possible to observe the preservation of mandibular contouring and facial esthetics. A panoramic radiograph revealed good positioning of the bone graft and volume maintenance.

DISCUSSION

The mandibular reconstruction is extremely important for the rehabilitation of the patient who underwent bone resection. The restoration of mandibular function and facial esthetics is essential to maintain the quality of life. The use of HBO in mandibular reconstruction is an important adjunct to successful treatment, however, more studies are needed to establish the best modalities of rehabilitation.

Conservative treatment of ameloblastoma in child: a case report

Ameloblastoma is the common form of aggressive benign tumor of the jaws, but it is rare in childhood. The treatment of ameloblastoma is controversial. Surgical treatment of ameloblastoma in children follows the principles of the clinical and pathological aspects of the tumor and poses a special problem due to the incomplete growth of the jaws. With a unicystic ameloblastoma, the procedure of choice is a conservative approach. This paper describes the conservative treatment of a plexiform unicystic ameloblastoma in a child involving curettage of the tumor and the extraction of two teeth under local anesthesia, with a good prognosis of the case.

Interdisciplinary management of mandibular intraosseous haemagioma

Intraosseous haemagiomas usually occur in the vertebral column, and are rare in the facial bones. Mandibular intraosseous haemangioma makes up less than 1% of all intraosseous tumours. We describe here the presentation, diagnosis, treatment, and outcome in a 15-year-old boy who presented with a mandibular intraosseous haemangioma. He was treated by embolisation, en bloc resection, and immediate replacement of the mandibular segment. We also harvested the proximal tibia bone grafts and inserted four dental implants. He is well 3 years later.

Immunoexpression of Ki67, proliferative cell nuclear antigen, and Bcl-2 proteins in a case of ameloblastic fibrosarcoma

Ameloblastic fibrosarcoma (AFS), regarded as the malignant counterpart of the benign ameloblastic fibroma, is an extremely rare odontogenic neoplasm with only 68 cases reported in the English literature up to 2009. It is composed of a benign odontogenic epithelium, resembling that of ameloblastoma, and a malignant mesenchymal part exhibiting features of fibrosarcoma. Due to the rarity of the lesion, little is known about its molecular pathogenesis; therefore, in the current study, we sought to evaluate the immunoexpression of Ki67, proliferative cell nuclear antigen, and Bcl-2 proteins in AFS, comparing the results obtained with its benign counterpart, as well as to report a new case of this rare entity affecting a 19-year-old female patient. The results obtained revealed that all the proteins evaluated were overexpressed in the malignant mesenchymal portion of AFS if compared with ameloblastic fibroma, suggesting that nuclear proliferative factors such as Ki67 and proliferative cell nuclear antigen, in association to histopathologic features, may be useful markers for identifying the malignancy and that, despite the lack of molecular analysis in the case reported, Bcl-2 alteration may play a role in AFS pathogenesis.

Treatment-related Burkitt's lymphoma: literature review and case report of successful treatment with rituximab monotherapy

The development of Burkitt's lymphoma (BL) is uncommon in elderly people. Most treatment-related hematological malignancies are of a myeloid lineage. Only a few cases with BL secondary to cancer treatment have been described. We report a rare case of an elderly patient with radiotherapy-related BL. A 71-year-old Japanese man, who had a past history of oropharyngeal cancer treated with local irradiation 15 years ago, presented with a left mandibular mass in December 2004. A partial mandibulectomy disclosed pathological features consistent with BL. Although the patient was initially treated with intensive chemotherapy, the development of complications precluded further anticancer drug treatment. Rituximab was administered once weekly for 5 consecutive weeks, with resolution of the mandibular mass. He remained in remission without further lymphoma treatment for more than 3 years after diagnosis. Rituximab monotherapy should be considered as a therapeutic option for elderly patients with BL.

[Mandibular desmoplastic fibroma: diagnosis and therapeutics difficulties]

INTRODUCTION

The desmoplastic fibroma is a rare bone tumor, characterized by aggressive local infiltration, with frequent recurrence. The most common site is the mandible. Radioclinical signs are not specific and the histological diagnosis may be difficult.

CASE

A 16 year-old male patient consulted for a painless and hard left mandibular swelling, without inferior alveolar nerve disorders. The tumor extended from tooth 31 to tooth 35, the mucosa was healthy. The panoramic view showed a multilocular osteolytic lesion with dental root resorption. CT scan showed expansion of bony cortex with rupture of the outer cortical. The biopsy indicated a desmoplastic fibroma or a fibrosarcoma. A second histological analysis combined with an immuno-histochemical study proved the diagnosis of desmoplastic fibroma.

DISCUSSION

The desmoplastic fibroma has a polymorphous symptomatology. Radiological signs are unspecific. Anatomopathology combined with immuno-histochemistry can prove the diagnosis and guide the treatment.

Primary neuroblastoma of the mandible

Primary neuroblastoma of the mandible is rare with only seven cases reported to date. The diagnosis is made after any possible primary tumour has been adequately investigated for and excluded. We report a one-year nine-month-old girl with a primary neuroblastoma of the mandible and discuss its possible aetiology.

[Mandibular tumours: epidemology, diagnostic and therapeutic aspects concerning 91 cases]

Oro-facial tumours are frequent and raise post-operational functional and aesthetic problems. What might be the situation of the mandibular tumours at CHU Tokoin-Lome (University Hospital Centre of Lome-Tokion).

OBJECTIVES

The aim of this study was to determined epidemiological, diagnostic and therapeutic aspects concerning the mandibular tumours.

METHOD

This retrospective study concerning 91 colligated files from January 1988 to December 2006 at the Oto-rhino-laryngologic and Cervico-Maxillo-Facial Surgery Service of the University Hospital Centre ( CHU) of Lome-Tokoin. The main inclusion criteria was the anatomopathological examination of the tumour.

RESULTS

The mandibular tumours represented 19.95% of the Oto-rhino-laryngological and Cervico-Maxillo-Facial tumours. They were diagnosed with annual average of 5 cases. The most affected age bracket was one going from 10 to 39 years , or the equivalent of 68.13% of the patients. The spreading of these tumours in both sexes was equal. 80.21% of patients were examined after a development period going from 0 to 4 years. The major circumstances of findings were the mandibular tumefaction (98.9%) dental or mandibular pains (48.35%). The favourite seat of these mandibular tumours was the hemi mandible (48.35%). The odontologic tumours were the predominant histological types or the equivalent of 64.84% of the mandibular tumours. The benign forms were the most frequent (72.88%), the ameloblastoma in particular. The treatment was a surgical one. The partial resection of the mandibular bone was the surgical technique that was the most used (67.03%). The short-term development was preferred (69%). The long-term follow-up was difficult.

CONCLUSION

The mandibular tumours were relatively frequent and predominated by the ameloblastoma. The findings circumstances were predominated by the mandibular tumefaction. The treatment was the preservative surgery as advocated by the majority of authors.

Glandular odontogenic cyst of the mandible: from incidental radiographic discovery to prosthetic reconstruction

A large multilocular radiolucent lesion involving the anterior mandible was noted incidentally in a 44-year-old woman who sought routine dental treatment. An incisional biopsy revealed that this lesion represented an uncommon developmental odontogenic cyst known as a glandular odontogenic cyst. The lesion was removed surgically, followed by reconstruction with a right anterior iliac crest bone graft. This article reviews the radiographic, clinical, and histopathologic appearance of this rare odontogenic cyst, as well as the surgical management and the patient's subsequent prosthetic rehabilitation.

[Metastatic breast cancer of the mandible. Case report]

The authors describe the case of the rare location breast cancer metastasis to the lower jaw, 24 months after primary tumor removal. Clinical symptoms and additional examinations suggested the new neoplastic focus. Histopathological study of the operating material brought to light the origin of the change.

Central mucoepidermoid carcinoma: Report of 2 cases

Central mucoepidermoid carcinoma is a rare mandibular neoplasm. The objective of this paper was to report two cases.

Unresectable hepatocellular carcinoma with a solitary metastasis to the mandible

Hepatocellular carcinoma (HCC) continues to pose a worldwide burden on health resources with an occurrence of 1.4 million cases annually. It represents the fifth most common cancer in men and eighth most common in women worldwide. Eighty per cent of patients have a background cirrhotic liver, most commonly in the United States, resulting from chronic hepatitis C infection, whereas alcoholism also commonly contributes to the development of cirrhosis. Fifty per cent of patients diagnosed with HCC present with metastatic disease. Sites of metastasis commonly include the lungs, vertebral bones, and abdominal lymph nodes. Metastasis to the oral region is very rare. We report a 55-year-old man with metastatic HCC to the mandible. The patient was previously diagnosed with unresectable HCC and had undergone six cycles of chemoembolization therapy. Although the lesion remained stable in size, he did not qualify for liver transplantation because of active alcohol use. He presented to the emergency room for evaluation of recent-onset jaw pain. There was no history of trauma and an oral examination did not reveal any mucosal lesions. Mild swelling and tenderness of the right jaw was noted, and a subsequent CT scan revealed a right-sided mass centered around a fracture of the body of the mandible and surrounded by the masseter muscle. A biopsy of the mass revealed a metastatic hepatocellular carcinoma and a CT scan of the chest, abdomen, and pelvis confirmed it to be a solitary metastasis. The patient underwent surgical resection of a segment of the right mandible and the metastatic tumor. He continues to receive regional chemoembolization and is currently pain-free. Solitary metastasis to the mandible in the setting of HCC is exceedingly rare. Fine needle aspiration biopsy of the lesion with immunohistochemical analysis is useful in characterizing the lesion and identifying the primary site. Radiotherapy has been used to palliate mandibular metastases; however, surgical intervention proved to be very effective in managing this patient's disease.

Ewing sarcoma of the mandibular condyle: Multidisciplinary management optimizes outcome

BACKGROUND

Ewing sarcoma (ES) is a rare, primary malignancy of bone that occurs in childhood and early adolescence. Improved methods of diagnosis and treatment have dramatically increased survival over the last 20 years. Treatment mainstays are chemotherapy and surgical tumor resection. ES usually occurs in long bones of the axial skeleton; however, it may rarely arise in facial structures, particularly the mandible. In these cases, resection presents a challenging postsurgical reconstruction.

METHODS AND RESULTS

We present the clinical findings and management of a case of ES that developed in the left mandibular condyle of a 15-year-old female. Chemotherapy and segmental mandibulectomy were used to achieve local control. An innovative temporomandibular joint reconstruction was successfully accomplished using a microvascular fibular free flap and conchal cartilage graft.

CONCLUSION

Multidisciplinary management in diagnosis, treatment, and restoration of function produced an optimal result that eliminated disease and preserved aesthetics and quality of life.

Ameloblastic fibroma: A review of published studies with special reference to its nature and biological behavior

To further elucidate confusions with respect to the nature and biological behavior of ameloblastic fibroma (AF), available English-language literature since its first description in 1891 was reviewed. A total number of 123 cases with well-documented follow-up data were retrieved to evaluate various clinical, pathological and behavioral aspects of this tumor. AF tends to occur in the first two decades (89/123; 72.4%), but patients older than 22 years are not uncommon (30 cases). An overall recurrence rate of 33.3% (41 cases) is identified in reported cases who were treated by conservative (91.5%) and radical (8.5%) methods. Malignant transformation is evident in 14 recurrent tumors with an overall transformation rate of 11.4%. These data support the view that majority of AFs are true neoplasms. However, a small number of AFs occurring in childhood may represent the primitive stage of a developing odontoma, as three of the reported recurrent AFs do show further maturation with formation of dental hard tissues. A significantly longer recurrence-free survival was noted in patients treated by radical procedures in comparison to those treated by conservative methods and the age of patients at the first presentation was significantly related to malignant transformation of AF. As we are unable, at present, to differentiate a hamartomatous lesion from a neoplasm among this group of lesions merely on histologic grounds, age of the patients should be an important consideration when choosing therapeutic methods. Radical surgery should not be employed for the treatment of AFs in young people.

Malignant schwannoma of the mandible: A case report

This article describes a 59-year-old woman with a rare malignant schwannoma invading the left mandible. The clinical, radiological, pathological findings, treatment, and prognosis of our patient are discussed in detail. A 4-year cure was achieved by radical surgery and concurrent chemoradiotherapy (CCRT). In addition, we also review and summarize relevant literature on malignant schwannoma.

Tumours and tumour-like lesions of the lower face at Korle Bu Teaching Hospital, Ghana--an eight year study

Background

The oro-facial region including the jawbones, the maxilla and mandible and related tissues can be the site of a multitude of neoplastic conditions. These tumours have a predilection for the entire facial region; however, odontogenic tumours tend to affect the mandible more than the maxilla, especially, in West African children. We report results from a retrospective study spanning eight years on the frequency, clinical presentation, sites and character of lower face tumours seen in the main referral hospital in Ghana.

Patients and methods

Records of consecutive patients of all age and sex seen by the first author's team at the Department of Oral and Maxillofacial Surgery, Korle-Bu Teaching Hospital with tumours affecting the lower part of the face from January 1996 to December 2003 were retrieved, coded and entered into a database. The data were then analyzed by age, sex, presenting signs and symptoms, site of lesion, and their histology.

Results

A total of 394 patients with oro-facial swellings were retrieved from the registry out of which 210 had lower face tumour and tumour-like lesions. The complete data set was obtained for 171 patients, comprising 99 (58%) males and 72 (42%) females. The most common clinical presenting features were mandibular facial swelling (63%), intra-oral swelling (55%), pain (41%) and ulceration (29%). The tumours were predominantly found in the right (43%), anterior (19%) and left (18%) aspects of the lower face. The remainder making up 20% were found in the floor of the mouth, tongue and lips. Seventy eight (45.6%) of the patients presented with lesions that were classified as malignant of which 54 (62%) were diagnosed as squamous cell carcinoma (SCC). Sixty-two (36.3%) had benign odontogenic tumours and thirty-one (18.1%) had non-odontogenic tumour-like lesions. Fifty-four (62%) of malignant tumours were squamous cell carcinoma; 58 (93.6%) of the benign odontogenic tumours were classified as ameloblastoma. The mean age at presentation of all lesions was 40.4 years with over 50% of benign lesions in patients aged between 11 and 30 years. Malignant tumours were more commonly detected in patients between 41 and 70 years (63%).

Conclusion

Tumours and tumour-like lesions of the lower face comprising the mandible, tongue and adjacent structures are a diverse group of neoplasm and are seen commonly in practice of Maxillofacial surgery. Both malignant and benign tumours are seen in the Ghanaian population. In the present study, SCC and ameloblastoma were the commonest malignant and benign odontogenic tumours seen respectively; the two representing more than 65% of all tumours.

Man as living bioreactor: Fate of an exogenously prepared customized tissue-engineered mandible☆

In 2004, we reported a novel method of repairing a human mandible by in vivo tissue engineering. The patient served as his own bioreactor as the exogenously prepared customized mandible replacement was grown inside his latissimus dorsi muscle prior to transplantation to repair the existing defect. Our technique was developed through extensive experience with an animal model. We describe our and the patient's experiences with this procedure. We give details to the benefits and limitations of this technique as it stands and outline issues that should be addressed in future human clinical trials.

Treatment of Squamous Cell Carcinoma of the Retromolar Trigone

OBJECTIVES

Retromolar trigone (RMT) squamous cell carcinoma is uncommon but notorious for poor prognosis. We reviewed our experience in the management of RMT cancer to determine survival rates and to identify prognostic factors.

METHODS

Fifty patients with RMT squamous cell carcinoma were treated with surgery and/or radiation or chemoradiation therapy between July 1993 and June 2004 at Chang Gung Memorial Hospital, Taiwan. Patients were followed up for 3 to 106 months (mean, 36 months). There were 6 stage I, 13 stage II, 4 stage II, and 27 stage N patients.

RESULTS

The 5-year actuarial survival rate for stage I to N and all stages were 100%, 74.1%, 75%, 43.6%, and 60.6%, respectively. Seventeen (34%) patients had maxilla bone (11 [22%]) or mandible bone (9 [18%]) invasion. Eleven (22%) patients had masticator space involvement. Cervical metastasis rate was 26%. Multivariate analysis revealed that masticator space involvement, neck recurrence, and cervical metastasis were poor prognosticators of survival by order. The maxilla bone was more apt to be involved by RMT cancer than the mandible. Patients with masticator space involvement had a 5-year actuarial survival rate of 22.5% and the mean survival time was only 37.8 months.

CONCLUSIONS

RMT squamous cell carcinomas are aggressive tumors. The maxilla is more apt to be involved than the mandible. Deep infiltration of the masticator space and invasion of the maxilla and mandible worsen the prognosis.

Metastatic lesion of the anterior mandible with an occult primary: a case report

Metastatic tumors to the oral cavity are relatively uncommon and account for about 1% of all oral cancers. Distant metastases to the jawbone are associated with a poor prognosis and a survival rate that is usually less than one year. The leading common primary sites for these lesions are the breast in females and the lung in males followed by the adrenals, kidneys, prostate, thyroid and colon. In 30% of all cancers, a metastatic lesion could be the first sign of a primary tumor elsewhere in the body. Metastatic lesions to the jaws are known to simulate periodontal and pulpal disease and other radiolucent lesions that can occur in the jaws. Microscopic evaluation with concurrent radiographic skeletal survey is warranted in patients where a metastatic lesion is suspected.

Postirradiation osteosarcoma of the mandible with heterologous differentiation

Heterologous differentiation in osteosarcoma is rare, with only 17 cases previously described in the literature. We report a case of a mandibular osteoblastic osteosarcoma with rhabdomyosarcomatous differentiation in a 45-year-old man who had a history of Hodgkin lymphoma that was treated with chemotherapy and radiation. Radiographs showed a destructive osteoblastic tumor of the mandible that was proven by biopsy to be osteosarcoma. After the patient underwent neoadjuvant chemotherapy, the tumor was resected. It contained a high-grade osteosarcoma composed of osteoblastic and chondroblastic elements that had no definitive response to therapy. Within the center of the lesion was a discrete focus of pleomorphic cells with rhabdomyosarcomatous differentiation that was confirmed by immunohistochemical stains for desmin, myogenin, and myogenic differentiation antigen 1. The patient received additional chemotherapy and radiation therapy but developed lung, brain, and spinal metastases and died 7 months after surgery. To our knowledge, this is the first report of osteosarcoma of the mandible with heterologous differentiation.

Free osseous and soft tissue surgical margins as prognostic factors in mandibular osteosarcoma

Osteosarcoma is an infrequent, locally aggressive neoplasm in the head and neck region. To date, surgery is the mainstay of treatment. However, patients with mandibular osteosarcomas usually have a locally advanced disease at diagnosis and therefore represent a therapeutic challenge because surgical margins are difficult to obtain due to aesthetic and functional concerns. To evaluate possible prognostic factors implicated in recurrence, persistence or relapse in osteosarcoma of the mandible, with special reference to the soft tissue and bone surgical margins. A series of 20 patients with mandibular osteosarcomas treated at the Instituto Nacional de Cancerología (México) from 1985 to 1999 are reviewed. There were 14 female and 6 male patients. Twelve cases were treated with surgery alone, 3 patients with surgery and adjuvant radiotherapy, 1 had neoadjuvant chemotherapy followed by surgery, 1 had neoadjuvant chemotherapy, surgery and postoperative radiotherapy, 1 with surgery and adjuvant chemotherapy, 1 with surgery followed by adjuvant chemotherapy and radiotherapy and one patient rejected treatment. Between 1985 and 1992 these neoplasms were treated by means of total mandibulectomy, independently of tumor size, but between 1993 and 1999 the policy was to practice smaller resections but long enough to obtain macroscopic surgical free margins. In the first period the relationship between mandibular size resection and tumor size was 1.9, meanwhile in the second period the relation was 1.5. There was not significant difference between both periods in terms of tumor size (6.0 cm vs. 6.02 cm at the time of surgery) nor in local control and survival. Soft tissue involvement as reported by histological study was strongly associated with recurrence (p = 0.0024). Overall 5-year survival was 20%. A policy of total mandibulectomy is not associated with a better local control or survival. Extent of resection must be tailored with tumor size. Extent of margins in soft tissue is the limiting factor for local control.

[Functional recovery with prosthetic management for segmental resection of the mandible without reconstruction]

PATIENT

The patient, a 54-year-old male, consulted the Oral Surgery Department of Iwate Medical University Hospital with a complaint of a mass in the left oral base in June 1992. In September 1992, the patient was diagnosed as having cancer in the left mandibular base, and the tumor was excised by resection of the entire cervical region on the left side. Since radiation osteonecrosis in the left mandible and mandibular fracture were detected, segmental excision of the left mandible was performed in March 1993. Although the postoperative course was good without reconstruction, the patient consulted the Second Prosthetic Department to achieve functional recovery in February 1996. This patient had no occlusal contact between the maxilla and mandible because the mandible shifted to the affected side. After fixation of a mandibular prosthetic appliance for the defective mandible, a palatal plate for the maxilla in occlusal contact with the mandibular dentition and mandibular prosthetic appliance were fixed in November 1997. After fixation of a new mandibular prosthetic appliance and dentures for the maxilla with palatal ramp in April 2001, masticatory function was observed to have improved with control of the mandible.

DISCUSSION

To prevent the mandibular shift and improvement of the masticatory function, a palatal plate with a palatal ramp in the occlusal contact region was fixed, and a balance of the masticatory muscles could be maintained. An evaluation of the level of improvement in the masticatory function and the pronunciation function indicated that the mandibular prosthetic appliance and palatal plate with a palatal ramp in the occlusal contact region increased the kind of food that the patient could take. Moreover, by enlarging the narrow Donders space, the pronunciation was improved.

CONCLUSIONS

Fixation of a palatal plate with a palatal ramp in the occlusal contact region without reconstruction of the mandibular bone was useful for the control of mandibular deviation to the affected side and improvement of the masticatory function.

Clear cell odontogenic carcinoma: a comprehensive analysis of treatment strategies

BACKGROUND

Odontogenic neoplasms of predominately clear cells are unusual. They represent a diagnostic dilemma, and as a result, treatment strategies are diverse. Our goal is to present two new cases, summarize reported cases of clear cell odontogenic carcinoma (CCOC), assess potential risk factors for recurrence, and propose definitive surgical and therapeutic strategies.

METHODS

A literature search and analysis was performed. Regression models were used to predict risk factors for recurrence.

RESULTS

Forty-three cases of CCOC were reviewed, including two reported here. The overall rate of recurrent disease was 55%. Local recurrence rates were higher for curettage (80%) than for resection alone (43%). Age (p = .20), sex (p = .28), and tumor site (p = .50) did not predict risk for recurrence.

CONCLUSIONS

CCOC is a potentially aggressive tumor with a tendency for recurrence. Treatment strategies should be directed toward wide surgical resection with confirmation of tumor-free margins. Lymph node dissection and adjuvant radiation therapy should be considered in selected cases.

Three cases of diffuse large B-cell lymphoma of the mandible treated with radiotherapy and chemotherapy

CASE REPORT

We report three cases of diffuse large B-cell lymphoma of the mandible and a review of the literature. All 3 of our patients had stage I AE disease and had complete remission for more than 2 years after 42-46 Gy of irradiation to the primary tumor with regional lymph nodes and 3 courses of chemotherapy consisting of cyclophosphamide, adriamycin, vincristine, and predonisolone (CHOP). Literature analysis, although biased toward published data, indicated that the 3-year disease-specific survival rates for non-Hodgkin's lymphoma (NHL) of the mandible were 90.5% and 47.6% for stages I and II, respectively. The treatment results for NHL of the mandible may be similar to general primary bone NHL and to other extranodal NHL's.

CONCLUSION

Radiotherapy alone is not sufficient for tumor control for stage I+II, disease, and combination chemotherapy may be needed.

[Restoration of oral functions following a (partial) mandibulectomy due to an oral carcinoma]

For patients diagnosed with malignant oral lesions invading the mandible, a partial or complete mandibulectomy is unavoidable. In predicting the invasion of the lesion, preoperative imaging techniques are used, such as an orthopantomogram, computed tomography, and magnetic resonance imaging. A mandibular discontinuity can be restored using a stainless steel or titanium reconstruction plate, or using autogenous non-vascularized or vascularized bone grafts. In achieving the goal of complete rehabilitation endosseous permucosal implants can be inserted in order to support a prosthesis. There is a tendency of a higher implant loss frequency among bone-grafted patients who have had implants after irradiation when compared with non-irradiated patients. After a (partial) mandibulectomy, oromandibular reconstruction by non-vascularized or vascularized bone grafts and endosseous implants provides a unique opportunity to restore some oral functions.

Dental and maxillofacial abnormalities following treatment of malignant tumours in children

There is a wide range of malignant tumours with an embryonic origin that can affect children in their early childhood including Rhabdomyosarcoma, Osteosarcoma, Chloroma, Retinoblastoma and neuroblastoma. Different protocols have been developed over the past years to treat these tumours and different combinations of radiotherapy, surgery and chemotherapy were used. This improved the survival rate considerably. This treatment has a marked effect on growth of soft and hard tissues in the affected regions of the head and face, leading to facial and dental abnormalities that become evident with growth. The great effect of radiotherapy and chemotherapy on craniofacial skeletal growth should be considered in all cases undergoing treatment for tumours. The resulting dental and maxillofacial abnormalities should be expected in all cases and its management require involvement of different members of the medical team including maxillofacial surgeon, restorative dentist, orthodontist, psychologist, dietician, speech therapist, the patient and the parents in order to achieve maximum results. This paper presents four patients who underwent radiotherapy and chemotherapy for treatment of embryonic tumours and discusses the main side effects of the treatment.