Bouckaert M

Maxillofacial hydatid cysts

We report 2 cases of hydatid cysts occurring in the submandibular gland and buccal submucosa, respectively. Our first case occurred in the submandibular salivary gland of a 20-year-old woman and the second involved the buccal submucosa of a 6-year-old boy. Both diagnoses were made after the excision of the lesions. Both patients were evaluated after surgery, and both were followed up, but no other organs were involved.

Oral mucosal immunity

Oral keratinocytes and dendritic cells of the oral mucosa, through molecular pattern recognition receptors, distinguish between commensal and pathogenic microorganisms and mediate the generation of protective immunoinflammatory responses to potentially invading pathogens or mediate immune tolerance toward commensal microorganisms. Oral immune tolerance is the result either of lack of activation of T cells in response to immunogenic presentation of antigens or of suppression of activity of effector T cells by regulatory T cells. Secretory immunoglobulin A (sIgA) antibodies at oral mucosal sites contribute to oral immunity by limiting colonization of microorganisms and their invasion of the epithelium. Ig isotype class switching to IgA is either dependent on or independent of T helper cells and is facilitated by cytokines secreted by dendritic cells and monocytes.

Gigantiform melanotic neuroectodermal tumor of infancy

Melanotic neuroectodermal tumor of infancy is a rare neoplasm of possibly neural crest origin, and it predominantly occurs in the premaxillas of infants less than 12 months old. Generally, the treatment of this benign pigmented lesion is conservative surgical excision. Long-term follow-up is imperative inasmuch as local recurrence and malignant transformation have been reported. A case with exceptional clinical features involving a 7-month-old child is presented.

Extramedullary myeloma in an HIV-seropositive subject. Literature review and report of an unusual case

Myeloma is characterized by monoclonal bone marrow plasmacytosis, the presence of M-protein in serum and/or in urine and osteolytic bone lesions. HIV-seropositive subjects with myeloma are younger at the time of diagnosis of the tumour and usually the myeloma has a more aggressive clinical course than it does in HIV-seronegative subjects.A case of an HIV-seropositive woman in whom myeloma was diagnosed following progressive swelling of the face, is reported. In addition to bone marrow plasmacytosis and the presence of M-protein in the serum, the patient had an extramedullary lesion affecting the oral cavity, maxilla, parotid gland and paranasal sinuses, and extending intracranially and intraorbitally.

Discoid lupus erythematosus-related squamous cell carcinoma of the lip in an HIV-seropositive black male

Discoid lupus erythematosus (DLE) is an autoimmune disease commonly affecting sun-exposed areas of the skin. Subjects with DLE have high-levels of plasmacytoid dendritic cells -derived interferon-α, which mediates both loss of immune tolerance to self-antigens and exaggerated inflammatory state, and supports proliferation and differentiation of hyperactive B-cells. In a few cases, DLE of the lips, scalp, ears or nose may eventually progress to squamous cell carcinoma (SCC). Photosensitivity and the long-standing immune-mediated chronic inflammation and dysregulated healing characterized by atrophy, hypopigmentation or scarring inherent to DLE are risk factors for progression to SCC. We review some aspects of the pathogenesis of DLE and the possible roles of inflammation and photosensitivity in the carcinomatous transformation of DLE keratinocytes, and present an illustrative case of DLE of the lower lip in an HIV-tuberculosis co-infected black person, that progressed to SCC.