Engelbert A.J.M. Schulten

Cheilitis granulomatosa: overview of 13 patients with long‐term follow‐up – results of management

Background Cheilitis granulomatosa, often regarded as a subtype of orofacial granulomatosis, is characterized by recurrent or persistent swelling of one or both lips. Classically, a non‐necrotizing granulomatous inflammation is seen at histologic examination. Although a relationship has been proposed between Melkersson–Rosenthal syndrome (and the monosymptomatic form, cheilitis granulomatosa) and Crohn’s disease on the basis of the orofacial swelling and similar histology, several studies of Melkersson–Rosenthal syndrome have not found an association with Crohn’s disease.

Fluocinonide in an adhesive base for treatment of oral lichen planus: A double-blind, placebo-controlled clinical study

Patients with symptomatic oral lichen planus frequently require therapy to reduce signs and symptoms. For this purpose, corticosteroids are often applied topically. In a randomized, double-blind, placebo-controlled study, the efficacy of the topical application of 0.025% fluocinonide was evaluated. Forty consecutive patients with oral lichen planus diagnosed on the basis of histopathologic and immunofluorescence findings participated in this study. All patients were followed for 3 to 17 months. No adverse effects were noted during follow-up period. In the group of 20 patients that received the drug, 4 patients (20%) showed a complete remission, and 12 patients (60%) had a good or partial response to topical treatment. In the placebo-group, these figures were 0 and 6 (30%), respectively. The majority of the placebo-group (70%) did not respond at all with regard to signs (Xt2 = 10.4; p = 0.0013) and symptoms (Xt2 = 6.97, p = 0.008). The results from this study suggest that topical application of fluocinonide in an adhesive base is a safe and effective drug to reduce signs and symptoms in oral lichen planus.

Second respiratory and upper digestive tract cancer following oral squamous cell carcinoma.

727 patients with squamous cell carcinoma (SCC) of the lip and oral cavity have been followed for the occurrence of second primary tumours (SPTs) in the respiratory and upper digestive tract (RUDT). 74 patients (10%) developed at least one SPT in the RUDT. The incidence of SPTs was expressed per 1000 person-years of follow-up. In our study about 28 SPTs per 1000 person-years of follow-up were seen in the RUDT. Patients were at risk for a second primary tumour, at a steady rate of approximately 2.8% per year during at least 10 years. Furthermore, patients with an index tumour in the lower part of the mouth (floor of mouth, retromolar area and lower alveolar process), which is more related to tobacco and/or alcohol, seem to be more at risk for SPTs than patients with an index tumour in the other (sub)sites of the mouth.

Squamous cell carcinoma of the lip and oral cavity in the netherlands; an epidemiological study of 740 patients

The epidemiological data of 740 patients with primary squamous cell carcinoma (SCC) of the lips or oral cavity is reported. The mean age was 63 years. The mean onset of oral cancer in women was 7 years later than in men. Patients under the age of 40 years were mainly males. The male-to-female ratio ranged from 8.3 for the lower lip to 0.9 for the upper alveolar ridge with an overall ratio of 1.8. In the case of multiple oral SCCs the tongue was the most frequently affected site. No significant association was found between the age or gender of patients and the size of the tumour. However, a significant association was observed between the site and size of the tumour. Lesions of the lower lip had a significantly smaller size than tumours of other sites. Furthermore, a linear trend could be observed between the size of the tumour and the clinical stage of the neck.

Cyclosporin A in an adhesive base for treatment of recalcitrant oral lichen planus

Patients with symptomatic oral lichen planus often require therapy to reduce signs and symptoms of the condition. For this purpose, corticosteroids are frequently used. In this study the effect of another immunosuppressive drug, cyclosporin A was evaluated; it was applied as a topical drug four times daily and contained 0.025% cyclosporin A. The study group was composed of nine symptomatic patients in whom the diagnosis of oral lichen planus was confirmed by histopathologic examination including immunofluorescence. All patients had unsuccessfully undergone previous treatment with topical or systemic corticosteroids. The minimum follow-up period in the present study was at least 4 months. Four patients showed partial response to treatment with respect to signs and symptoms. None of the patients had a complete remission. Five patients showed no response or even complained of an increase of signs and symptoms. No adverse side effects of the drug were recorded during follow-up. Although the number of patients has been small, the results of this study indicate that topical application of cyclosporin A (0.025%) in the treatment of recalcitrant oral lichen planus does not offer a distinct advantage over the use of topical corticosteroids.

Management of recurrent ameloblastoma of the jaws; a 40-year single institution experience.

Ameloblastoma is a histologically almost always benign odontogenic tumor with a high rate of recurrence if not removed completely. Therefore, radical surgery is the treatment of choice of a primary ameloblastoma. Of 18 patients with a recurrent ameloblastoma, previously treated by enucleation, radical surgery was deemed impossible in three because of the extent of the tumor or because of a poor general condition of the patient. Of the remaining 15 patients three refused to undergo radical surgery and have been treated for their recurrence by enucleation again. In none of the twelve remaining patients treated by radical surgery a recurrence was observed in a mean follow-up period of 10.5 years. In one of these patients a metastatic cervical lymph node was detected during the primary reconstruction of the mandibular defect. The absence of recurrences in patients treated by radical surgery should be looked at with some reservation, since recurrences may still show up after 10.5 years. The three patients who refused radical surgery all developed one or more new recurrences.

Paraneoplastic pemphigus as the presenting symptom of a lymphoma of the tongue

A patient is described who initially presented with an acrovesicular eczema which subsequently developed into erythema multiforme with histopathological features of bullous pemphigoid. Although the various laboratory studies pointed to the diagnosis of paraneoplastic pemphigus (PNP), the underlying neoplasm was not detected until 6 months later, when the biopsies of an oral lesion showed the presence of an underlying non-Hodgkin lymphoma.

Oral hairy leukoplakia in HIV infection: A diagnostic pitfall

Twenty-nine human immunodeficiency virus (HIV)-infected patients with white, nonremovable lesions on the lateral border of the tongue, clinically suggestive of oral hairy leukoplakia (HL), were studied. In particular, the value of local antifungal therapy in establishing the diagnosis of HL was investigated. In 15 patients (52%) the lesions could be ultimately attributed to a candidal infection of the tongue. In 10 of the remaining 14 patients, a biopsy was obtained from lesions persisting after local antifungal treatment. In all biopsy specimens, the diagnosis of HL was confirmed by histopathologic examination and the demonstration of Epstein-Barr virus DNA by polymerase chain reaction, Southern blot hybridization, and DNA in situ hybridization. The present data confirm that the diagnosis of HL in HIV-infected patients cannot be reliably made on clinical criteria alone, but requires histopathologic confirmation including the demonstration of Epstein-Barr virus DNA, preferably by DNA in situ hybridization. However, with regard to the differential diagnosis of white, nonremovable lesions on the lateral border of the tongue in HIV-infected patients, the present study suggests that persistence of lesions after local antifungal therapy is highly suggestive of HL.

Paraneoplastic pemphigus caused by an epithelioid leiomyosarcoma and associated with fatal respiratory failure

A patient is described who initially presented with pemphigus vulgaris, limited to the oral cavity, and weight loss. Although the various laboratory studies pointed to the diagnosis of paraneoplastic pemphigus (PNP), the underlying neoplasm was not detected until 6 months later, when the patient developed shortness of breath and routine physical examination on admission revealed an abdominal mass, which eventually was proven to be an epithelioid leiomyosarcoma. In spite of radical excision of the tumour and intensive treatment of the dyspnoea, the patient died of respiratory failure 19 months after the PNP had been diagnosed. Early diagnosis of PNP is stressed to possibly prevent fatal pulmonary involvement.

Proposal for a new staging system for osteoradionecrosis of the mandible

A new staging system for osteoradionecrosis of the mandible has been retrospectively applied to a group of 31 patients. In this system clinicoradiographic signs and symptoms are incorporated in a simplified manner. For imaging purposes the use of plain radiographs such as periapical films and panoramic radiographs is recommended, mainly because of their readily availability. The presented staging system seems well reproducible, facilitating the comparison of study groups dealing with the various issues of osteoradionecrosis of the mandible. It is yet to be evaluated whether the presently proposed staging system is useful for management purposes. Key words:Osteoradionecrosis, jaw bones, mandible, staging, classification.