Lauren Frenzel Schuch

A multicenter study of malignant oral and maxillofacial lesions in children and adolescents

OBJECTIVES To investigate the frequency of malignant oral and maxillofacial lesions among children and adolescents from representative geographic regions of Brazil. MATERIALS AND METHODS A retrospective study was conducted on biopsies obtained from 1990 to 2016 at six Brazilian oral and maxillofacial pathology referral centers. A total of 85,105 biopsy specimens from children and adolescents were analyzed. Gender, age, anatomical location, symptomatology and histopathological diagnosis were evaluated. Data were analyzed using descriptive statistical methods. RESULTS Fifty-eight (0.06%) malignant oral and maxillofacial lesions were diagnosed in children (19%) and adolescents (81%). The lesions were more frequent among females (60.3%) and adolescents. The most prevalent lesions were mucoepidermoid carcinomas (22.4%), osteosarcomas (13.8%), squamous cell carcinomas (12.1%), and Burkitts lymphomas (12.1%). The most commonly affected sites were the palate (19%), mandible (13.8%), and maxilla (13.8%). Almost half the patients were asymptomatic. CONCLUSION Pediatric oral and maxillofacial malignant lesions were infrequent and showed wide diversity, with a prevalence of mucoepidermoid carcinomas. Analysis of malignant lesions in children and adolescents helps pediatric dentists and oncologists to obtain a better understanding of such lesions and to reduce the time for diagnosis, with a consequent improvement of prognosis.

Oral and Maxillofacial Lesions Diagnosed in Older People of a Brazilian Population: A Multicentric Study

The aim of this study was to investigate the prevalence of oral and maxillofacial lesions among older adults (≥60 years) from representative regions in Brazil.

Odontogenic carcinosarcoma: A systematic review

The aim of this study was to integrate the available data published on odontogenic carcinosarcoma into a comprehensive analysis of their features, treatment and recurrence. An electronic search with no publication date or language restriction was undertaken in March 2018 in the following databases: Medline Ovid, PubMed, Web of Science, Scopus and LILACS. Eligibility criteria included publications having enough clinical, imaginological and histopathological information to confirm a definite diagnosis of the neoplasm. Data were evaluated descriptively and statistically using the MedCalc software. The Kaplan-Meier method was used for survival analysis. The systematic review detected nine articles from eight countries. Six cases with no age predilection occurred in male individuals complaining of painful swelling in the posterior mandible. Radiographically, the lesions were large, with expansive radiolucency and with ill-defined borders and seven cases were associated with preexisting odontogenic lesions. Radical surgery was the treatment of choice in the majority of cases. Recurrences (n = 6), metastasis (n = 4) and death (n = 4) were frequently observed in many cases. Odontogenic carcinosarcoma is a very aggressive neoplasm with a poor prognosis. This study provides knowledge that could help surgeons, oncologists, otorhinolaryngologists and oral maxillofacial pathologists with the diagnosis and management of these lesions.

Calcifying epithelial odontogenic tumours: Collaborative study of 32 cases and review of literature

OBJECTIVES To analyse the occurrence of calcifying epithelial odontogenic tumours (CEOT) based on biopsy records from different Brazilian geographic regions and to contrast the data with a review of the literature. MATERIALS AND METHODS A 2-step study was conducted. Step 1 consisted of a collaborative study of biopsies obtained from 1953 to 2017 at six Brazilian oral and maxillofacial pathology centres. Evaluation of 86,268 biopsy records was performed. Demographic and histopathological diagnosis data were assessed. In Step 2, a review of the literature of case reports and cases series of CEOT identified across five electronic databases was conducted. RESULTS In the collaborative study, 32 cases of CEOT were evaluated. This figure represented 0.03% of the oral and maxillofacial lesions and 1.7% of all odontogenic tumours across the centres. Women in the fourth decade of life were more affected. CEOT occurred more in the mandible than in the maxilla (ratio 1.9:1). The review of the literature showed that Asian individuals were more affected by this neoplasm. CONCLUSIONS Useful knowledge on the epidemiology, treatment and follow-up of CEOT has been provided. Demographic data and clinical features of the cases presented in this collaborative study were quite similar to those of studies reported worldwide.

Calcifying odontogenic cyst, dentinogenic ghost cell tumor, and ghost cell odontogenic carcinoma: A systematic review

BACKGROUND The aim of this study was to integrate the available data published on calcifying odontogenic cyst (COC), dentinogenic ghost cell tumor (DGCT), and ghost cell odontogenic carcinomas (GCOCs) into a comprehensive analysis of their clinicoradiological features, treatment, and recurrence. MATERIALS AND METHODS An electronic search with no publication date restriction was undertaken in October 2017 in the following databases: PubMed, Medline Ovid, Web of Science, and Scopus. Eligibility criteria included publications containing enough clinical, radiological, and histopathological information to confirm a definite diagnosis of these lesions. Data were evaluated descriptively. RESULTS The literature review indicated a total of 234 publications reporting 367 COCs, 55 DGCTs and 44 GCOCs. These lesions have a predilection for Asian males. COCs mainly affect the mandible and patients in the second decade of life, DGCTs mostly affect the mandible and patients in the fourth decade of life, and GCOCs mostly affect the maxilla and patients in the fifth decade of life. CONCLUSION Conservative surgery was the most common therapy for COCs and DGCTs, while radical surgery was most common for GCOCs. This study provides important and interesting data that could help clinicians and surgeons as well as oral and maxillofacial pathologists with the diagnosis and management of these lesions.