Alan Motta do Canto

Líquen plano oral (LPO): diagnóstico clínico e complementar

Lichen planus is a common disorder of the stratified squamous epithelium that affects oral and genital mucous membranes, skin, nails, and scalp. Oral Lichen Planus (OLP) affects middle-aged women and shows distribution patterns and characteristics such as white striations, white plaques or papules, erythema, blisters and erosions, and may be associated with medication and/or dental materials used by the patient. The clinical diagnosis can only be made if the disease presents classical patterns such as concomitant lesions in the oral mucosa and skin. The laboratory diagnosis is histopathologically characterized by the presence of projections of the epithelium in the form of sawtooth and Civatte bodies and allows the exclusion of dysplasia and malignancy. Direct immunofluorescence is used when there is suspicion of other diseases, such as pemphigus and pemphigoid. OLP is treated with anti-inflammatory agents, particularly topical corticosteroids; new agents and techniques have proved effective. The malignant transformation of OLP and its exact incidence remain controversial. This work aims at presenting, through literature review, the etiopathogenesis, clinical diagnosis, laboratory tests, and complications of OLP.

Prospective study of human herpesvirus 8 oral shedding, viremia, and serological status among human immunodeficiency virus seropositive and seronegative individuals in Sao Paulo, Brazil.

ABSTRACT Human herpesvirus 8 (HHV-8) is a gamma-herpesvirus and etiological agent of all forms of Kaposi sarcoma (KS). Saliva may play an important role in HHV-8 transmission in specific populations. Little is known about HHV-8 oral shedding pattern and the possible correlation with the HHV-8 serological profile and viremia. A prospective study was conducted of HHV-8 salivary excretion among human immunodeficiency virus HIV-seronegative (n = 47) and -seropositive (n = 44) homosexual men and HIV-seropositive women (n = 32) over a 6-month period with monthly HHV-8 serologies (immunofluorescence assays to identify antibodies to latent and lytic HHV-8 viral proteins, and a whole-virus HHV-8 enzyme-linked immunosorbent assay [ELISA]), monthly HHV-8 DNA serum/plasma detection, and daily self-collected oral rinses for HHV-8-DNA detection using real-time polymerase chain reaction. HHV-8 seropositivity was 51.1%, 63.6%, and 37.5%, in the three studied groups. There was no case of HHV-8 DNA detection in serum/plasma. Intermittent detection of oral HHV-8 DNA was observed during 5.1% (110/2,160) of visits among 28% (18/64) of HHV-8-seropositive individuals, all of whom were males and HHV-8 ELISA seropositive. In immunologically controlled populations of Brazil, HHV-8 oral shedding was limited to HHV-8-seropositive men, occurred infrequently and intermittently, and was not linked to HHV-8 viremia, suggesting a limited potential for oral or blood transmission.

Immunohistochemical biomarkers in ameloblastomas

Abstract Ameloblastoma is an aggressive odontogenic tumour, which is locally invasive and highly recurrent. Studies show that ameloblastoma is a benign odontogenic neoplasia, being relatively rare and occasionally presenting behaviour of malignant lesions. In addition to these particularities, the histological diagnosis of ameloblastoma can be challenging when the tumour shows high rates of mitosis, absence of nuclear pleomorphism, basilar hyperplasia and neural invasion. In order to help in the diagnosis, prognosis and treatment of this neoplasia, some immunohistochemical markers were shown to be associated with tumoural epithelium. The identification of these markers as well as of their association with clinical signs can be useful to elaborate more efficient treatment strategies and to control this pathology, including improvement of the quality of life of patients affected by this neoplasia. This article aims to review some markers associated with specific molecular pathways, bone remodelling, cell proliferation, apoptosis, cell signalling and tumour suppression.

Sclerosing Polycystic Adenosis of Tongue

Sclerosing polycystic adenosis (SPA) is a rare benign lesion of the salivary glands which appears histologically similar to sclerosing adenosis and fibrocystic disease of the mammary gland. To date, 67 cases of SPA have been reported in the literature, with the lesion arising in the minor salivary glands in only 9. The present report describes the 10th case of SPA. The patient was a 39-year-old Brazilian man who presented with an asymptomatic nodule on the ventral surface of the tongue. Based on a clinical diagnosis of benign salivary gland neoplasm, an excisional biopsy of the lesion was performed. Histopathological examination showed lobular proliferation of ductal and acinar elements surrounded by a fibrosclerotic stroma. Many of the ductal structures exhibited cystic dilatation and were surrounded by periductal fibrosis, which is consistent with SPA findings. No recurrence of the disease was observed after a 5-year follow-up. A literature review is also discussed, focusing on both the etiology of SPA and the treatment options available.

Treatment of a Large Traumatic Encephalocele with Titanium Mesh

Encephalocele is defined as protrusion of cranial contents beyond the normal confines of the skull. Although most encephalocele cases have a congenital etiology, fractures of the skull base can cause traumatic encephalocele. In most encephalocele cases, the bone defect presents reduced dimensions and the endoscopic treatment is generally performed to reconstruct the area using mucosal and/or fat grafts. This article sought to report on a rare case of traumatic encephalocele associated with an extensive defect of the anterior skull base. This case was treated via transcranial access, and reconstruction was performed using titanium mesh in conjunction with a pericranium flap.

Peripheral Calcifying Epithelial Odontogenic Tumour Mimicking a Gingival Inflammation: A Diagnostic Dilemma

The calcifying epithelial odontogenic tumour (CEOT) is an extremely rare benign neoplasia, accounting for approximately 1% of all odontogenic tumours. CEOT can have two clinical manifestations: central or intraosseous (94% of the cases) and peripheral or extraosseous (6% of the cases). Although the latter is less common, the peripheral variant has been described as an insidious lesion, since it is usually asymptomatic and may be erroneously mistaken with gingival hyperplasia, hamartomas, or even metastasis of malignant neoplasia. We report a case of a young male patient presenting with a peripheral CEOT in the mandibular posterior region, mimicking a located gingival inflammation.