John F. Nelson

Acquired immune deficiency syndrome presenting as a palatal perforation

Head and neck manifestations are particularly frequent in the acquired immune deficiency syndrome. An unusual case of acquired immune deficiency syndrome in a female prostitute whose initial presentation included a palatal perforation is reported. This case is also noteworthy because the patient died of disseminated miliary tuberculosis, a disease only recently included in the Centers for Disease Control case definition of AIDS.

Lymphoepithelial cysts of the oral cavity: Report of nine cases

Abstract Because of their small size and asymptomatic nature, benign lymphoepithelial cysts are seldom reported in the literature. Careful evaluation of the oral cavity should demonstrate a larger incidence of such cysts. When the diagnosis of these lesions is confirmed by tissue examination, the data should be published.

Reactions of rat odontogenic tissues to heat

Twenty-four Wistar rats were anesthetized and 200 degrees C heat was applied for 4 minutes to each mandibular left first molar. Eight of these rats were then killed at 2, 8, and 14 weeks. The subject and control teeth were radiographed and compared. They were then prepared for histologic evaluation and scored for levels of inflammation in both the pulpal and periradicular tissues. Furcal, interproximal, and apical radiographic changes were found at all three time intervals. These changes involved progressively larger percentages of teeth at 8 and 14 weeks. Histologically, complete necrosis and/or abscess formation were found in the coronal portions of all experimental pulps. With time, inflammatory changes increased in intensity and progressed through the radicular pulps, resulting in necrosis or calcific changes and, finally, inflammatory changes in the periradicular areas. The pathosis created by the application of heat was devoid of microorganisms as evaluated by the Brown and Brenn stain.