Gisele N. Mainville

Primary malignant myopericytoma of the left atrium--a tumor of aggressive biological behavior: report of the first case and review of literature.

We report a case of malignant myopericytoma arising in the left atrium with brain, skeletal, and liver metastases, which, to our knowledge, is the first report of this rare entity in this anatomic location. A 52-year-old man presented with progressive blackening of his left field of vision. Magnetic resonance imaging and a computed tomography scan of the brain and thorax showed a heterogeneous mass in the right occipital lobe and a large left atrial floor mass. Excision of the atrial mass showed a circumscribed but unencapsulated malignant spindled neoplasm with a perivascular concentric cellular arrangement punctuated by sheets of tumor necrosis. The cells were round to spindled with eosinophilic cytoplasm and indistinct borders. Focally, the tumor infiltrated cardiac muscle. By immunohistochemistry, the cells were positive for smooth muscle actin and negative for desmin, H-Caldesmon, S-100, HMB-45, and Melan-A. The features were prototypic for malignant myopericytoma. Eight months after initial presentation, the patient is alive with metastatic disease.

Diagnosis and Management of Benign Fibro‐Osseous Lesions of the Jaws‐A Current Review for the Dental Clinician

Benign fibro-osseous lesions of the maxillofacial skeleton constitute a heterogeneous group of disorders that includes developmental, reactive (dysplastic) and neoplastic lesions. Although their classification has been reviewed multiple times in the past, the most common benign fibro-osseous lesions are fibrous dysplasia, osseous dysplasia and ossifying fibroma. For the dental clinician, the challenges involve diagnosis and treatment (or lack thereof). A careful correlation of all clinical, radiologic and microscopic features is essential to establish a proper diagnosis and a clear treatment plan. This article aimed to review the clinical, radiologic and histopathologic characteristics of benign fibro-osseous lesions of the jaws, with emphasis on their differential diagnoses. With a deeper understanding of benign fibro-osseous lesions, clinicians will be better prepared to manage these lesions in their practice.

Oral ulceration associated with concurrent herpes simplex virus, cytomegalovirus, and Epstein-Barr virus infection in an immunocompromised patient.

In immunocompromised patients, oral ulcerations are common and have a wide spectrum of causes, including herpesvirus infection. We report on a case in which an oral ulcer was simultaneously infected by herpes simplex (HSV), cytomegalovirus (CMV), and Epstein-Barr virus (EBV) in a kidney-pancreas transplant recipient. A 46-year-old woman presented with a clinically nonspecific dorsal tongue ulcer of 3 months duration. Histopathologic evaluation indicated keratinocytes exhibiting herpetic viral cytopathic effect. Nuclear and cytologic alterations suggestive of CMV infection were found in endothelial cells subjacent to the ulcer. Immunohistochemistry testing for HSV and CMV was positive in these cells. Large atypical mononuclear cells were also evident in the ulcer beds inflammatory infiltrate, which had intense nuclear positivity for Epstein-Barr encoding region in situ hybridization. We believe this is the first well-documented report of the definitive concomitant presence of HSV, CMV, and EBV in an immunocompromised patient. Although the pathogenesis of coinfected ulcers remains unknown, a synergistic effect is possible.

Oral Pyoderma Gangrenosum: Diagnosis, Treatment and Challenges: A Systematic Review

Pyoderma gangrenosum (PG) is a distinctive ulcerative skin disorder of unknown etiology, associated with an underlying systemic disease in up to 70% of cases. The condition is characterized by the appearance of one or more necrotic ulcers with a ragged undermined violaceous border and surrounding erythema. Lesions are often initiated by minor trauma. The condition can affect any anatomical site, however the head and neck are rarely involved. Although the oral cavity is subject to recurrent minor trauma through everyday activities such as mastication and oral hygiene, as well as during dental treatment, oral lesions appear to be extremely rare. In an effort to provide a detailed explanation of the oral manifestations of PG, a systematic search was conducted using medical databases. A total of 20 cases of PG with oral involvement were reported in the English and French literature. The objectives of this article are to present the pertinent diagnostic criteria and to discuss the differential diagnosis and therapeutic modalities.

Intraosseous Schwannoma of the Jaws: An Updated Review of the Literature and Report of 2 New Cases Affecting the Mandible

Schwannomas are benign nerve sheath neoplasms composed almost entirely of Schwann cells. These tumors most often arise in the soft tissues of the head and neck. However, they seldom occur within bone. This article presents a rare case of a recurrent intraosseous schwannoma of the anterior mandible and another case of a posterior intraosseous mandibular schwannoma accessed through a sagittal split ramus osteotomy. Furthermore, an updated review of the literature on intraosseous schwannomas affecting the mandible and maxilla is provided.

Major salivary gland aplasia and hypoplasia in Down syndrome: review of the literature and report of a case

Salivary gland aplasia and hypoplasia are rarely described in the medical literature. This article presents a case of aplasia and hypoplasia of the major salivary glands in a patient with Down syndrome. A literature review, as well as an overview of the diagnosis and management of this condition, is presented.