Alan J. Drinnan

Oral amyloidosis: Two unusual case presentations☆

Two cases of oral amyloidosis are reported. In each case there were unusual oral manifestations. In the first case the patients only complaints were of recurrent swelling of the submandibular glands and xerostomia. The diagnosis of amyloidosis was determined from a labial salivary gland biopsy. In the second case an enlarged tongue had produced displacement of the teeth, causing malocclusion. The resulting difficulty in chewing stimulated the patient to seek advice. In each case the diagnosis was confirmed by electron microscopy, Congo red staining, and serum and urine electrophoresis.

Diagnostic dilemma involving calcification in the parapharyngeal space: metastatic thyroid carcinoma masquerading as a deep lobe parotid mass.

As the parapharyngeal space is difficult to examine clinically, the radiographic distinction between deep lobe parotid masses and extraparotid tumors is essential in determining the surgical approach. We describe the case of a 53-year-old woman who presented with facial pain consequent to metastatic papillary thyroid carcinoma of the parapharyngeal space. A highly unusual pattern of calcification was present in the mass as observed by panoramic radiography and computed tomography. Parapharyngeal metastasis as the presenting feature of occult thyroid carcinoma has only been described four times previously in the medical literature.

The effects of alcohol and cetylpyridinium chloride on the buccal mucosa of the hamster

The effects of alcohol and cetylpyridinium chloride on normal and abraded hamster buccal pouches were studied in 23 study and 23 control animals over 21 consecutive days. No significant differences were found between the control and study animals, both groups having normal cheek pouch mucosa at the end of the study period.

Development of the bulletin board for oral pathology

Advances in information technology as well as significant falls in the costs of computer hardware and software have led to changes in the methods by which people communicate. The system of electronic mail (E-mail) has been adopted by millions. Few major corporations, educational institutions, or hospitals do not now have, at the very least, a local area network (LAN) over which E-mail can be sent. The development of the INTERNET with connections to all parts of the world has allowed persons who can access the INTERNET to contact others with similar interests through E-mail or by connecting to special interest groups (SIGs). Many thousands of bulletin boards (BB) or discussion groups have been established that permit people with similar interests to link together electronically and to exchange information and comments about virtually any subject. Several bulletin boards have been organized for people with interests in medical matters and have proven successful. The Bulletin Board for Oral Pathology (BBOP) was set up in September 1994 by the State University of New York at Buffalo School of Dental Medicine and the Universitys Computer Center. The following nontechnical report reviews how the BBOPLIST was established on the Universitys IBM computer, explains some of the decisions that had to be made at the time of its initiation, and provides an analysis of the first 9 months of its operation. It is thought that this may be of interest to oral pathologists, related specialists, and to others who might be considering establishing a similar bulletin board for another special interest group.