Norbert J. Burzynski

Squamous cell carcinoma of the upper aerodigestive tract in patients 40 years of age and younger

Oral squamous cell carcinoma in patients 40 years of age and younger has been noted to be infrequent. The incidence is not as noticeable because the majority of oral cancers are diagnosed during the later decades of life. This study was undertaken to evaluate the incidence, site predilection, etiologic factors, and modes of treatment and to compare these results with available data on this topic. Of 1387 cases of oral and pharyngeal squamous cell carcinoma diagnosed from 1968 to 1989 at University Hospital and affiliated institutions, 28 occurred in patients under 40 years of age. When these lesions were staged according to the American Joint Committee for Cancer Staging, we found 6 stage I lesions, 3 stage II, 2 stage III, and 11 stage IV. Six lesions could not be staged from information available in the patient records. Present data corroborate the national average of 1% to 3% of cases of oral squamous cell carcinoma found within the 40 and under age group.

Extraosseous calcifying epithelial odontogenic tumor: Report of a case

T he calcifying epithelial odontogenic tumor has been described by Pindborg’l 2 as a separate entity among the epithelial odontogenic tumors. The eponym “Pindborg tumor” also has been used to denote this pathologic entity.3 Recently, Pindborg4 has reviewed the literature and summarized the information available on twenty-six known cases. With two exceptions,4 all the known cases have been intraosseous. Another case of the extraosseous variety has been seen and is herewith added to the literature.

Reactive properties of oral lesions to the specific red cell adherence test

Abstract The ability of the specific red cell adherence test to differentiate cancerous oral epithelium from normal epithelium or oral epithelium affected by other lesions has not been well demonstrated. The purpose of this study was to attempt to demonstrate the specificity of the specific red cell adherence test in the immunologic differentiation of cancerous oral epithelium from noncancerous epithelium. The first segment of the program involved a blind study consisting of 124 samples of unknown, unstained mucosal tissue sections. A “sandwich”-type technique was applied to the sections, with the tissue on the bottom, the antiserum of the tissue blood type in the middle, and citrated red blood cells of the tissue type on the top. The reaction between the epithelial isoantigens, A, B, or H, the antisera, and the type of red blood cells, A, B, or O, provided the specific adherence. The second phase of the study consisted of the examination of tissue sections of various known oral lesions, such as lichen planus and keratoacanthoma. These sections were processed by the above technique and the specific red cell adherence was noted under the light microscope. While cancerous oral epithelium showed a negative adherence of red cells to tissue, normal oral epithelium and noncancerous epithelium showed a positive adherence. This is postulated to be due to the loss of tissue isoantigens A, B, or H on the cancerous tissue. The results of this study may demonstrate the specificity of this adherence value, with a 98.38 percent correct diagnosis in the original blind study.

Autosomal dominant smooth hypoplastic amelogenesis imperfecta: Report of a case

Abstract Amelogenesis imperfecta implies a hereditary defect in enamel without any known clinical changes in other body tissues. A familial incidence of smooth hypoplastic amelogenesis imperfecta without any related systemic abnormalities was noted to occur in four generations. An autosomal dominant mode of inheritance was observed for this enamel defect.

Craniocarpotarsal dysplasia syndrome (whistling face syndrome): Case reports and survey of clinical findings

Case histories of two patients with the whistling face syndrome are presented. The most striking features are microstomia, midface hypoplasia, scoliosis, and retarded growth. Family histories were unremarkable, except possibly in Patient K. B.s family, where three miscarriages in six pregnancies were noted. Biochemical and chromosome analysis did not reveal obvious changes. The genetics implied a sporadic inheritance pattern.

Familial occurrence of Bell's palsy

Abstract A case of familial Bells palsy is presented to further supplement previous limited reports. A genetic predisposition appears to be functioning in some instances of Bells palsy. The present case suggests an irregular autosomal dominant mode of inheritance.

Phospholipid Content and Aging in the Submandibular Salivary Gland

Certain data on salivary gland changes with age have been described as fatty degeneration of the parenchyma (A. W. WAREN, Amer J Anat 85:157, 1949) and as alteration in the morphology of the mitochondria and Golgi complex (S. M. KuRTZ, J Geront 9:421, 1954). These observations imply a possible change in the lipid metabolism of the cells with time. This study was undertaken to complement the descriptive results of the aging effects with possible biochemical concentration changes with age in the submandibular salivary gland of the guinea pig. Twenty-two guinea pigs in approximately equal numbers of both sexes, ranging from 7 to 825 days of age, were used. The guinea pigs were maintained under similar dietary and environmental conditions. Salivary gland specimens were adjusted to a weight of 150 mg for uniformity. All tissues used for biochemical analysis were verified as submandibular salivary glands by histologic examination. The specimens were plunged in liquid nitro-

Observations of Chemical Changes in the Palate of Guinea Pigs with Relation to Aging

V 00 similar dietary and environmental conditions. The exact purpose of this study was to detect chemical differences, if any, between sexes in the 1and 4year-old age groups, as well as differences between the two age groups of 1and 4-year-old animals. Twenty animals in equal numbers of both sexes were used. The experimental animals, sex, and age (ranging in days) were: Group 1 (female), 230 days; Group 1 (male), 265-346 days; Group 2 (female), 1,429-1,450 days; and Group 2 (male), 1,421-1,581 days. Group 1 constituted the 1-yearold animals, and Group 2 was composed of the 4year-old animals. After sacrificing the animals, specimens weighing approximately 25 mg. were removed surgically from the palate. All specimens were immersed in liquid nitrogen, pulverized, and homogenized in 1.6 M perchloric acid at 40 C. The initial sediment was subjected to 0.1 N sodium hydroxide at 370 C. for 12 hours and centrifuged. The supernatant solution was designated as the cold alkali-soluble fraction (non-collagenous). The remaining sediment was subjected to 0.1 N sodium hydroxide at 100° C. for 30 minutes and centrifuged. This supernatant solution was designated as the hot alkali-soluble fraction (collagenous). Both fractions were analyzed for nitrogen (K. J. OBRINK, Biochem. J., 59:134, 1955) and protein-bound hexoses (R. J. WINZLER, Methods of Biochemical Analysis, 2:279, 1955). Absorbence measurements were performed with the spectrophotometer.* Four ratios were constructed, using both nitrogen and hexoses as parameters, to note any differences with aging. The statistical results of this study are presented in the table. This study showed no significant differences (p > 0.02) in the palatal tissues with aging between sexes of the same age groups and in palatal tissues of 1-year-old and 4-year-old animals in non-collagenous to collagenous ratios. However, some changes with aging were observed in the hexose ratios between the 1-year-old and 4-year-old groups. These changes suggest a decrease in the carbohydrate content of the non-collagenous fraction of palatal tissue with aging and an increase of the carbohydrate content of the collagenous fraction of palatal tissue with aging. The reduction in hexose with age tends to agree with a previous report (D. E. FLIEDER, J. dent. Res., 41:112, 1962) on human oral mucosa. The noted similarity between Group 1 and Group 2 females of the cold soluble hexose to cold soluble nitrogen ratio is not explainable at this time.

Oral-facial-digital syndrome: A family case report☆

A familial case report of oral-facial-digital I syndrome affecting three generations is presented. The pedigree analysis substantiates that this syndrome is lethal for the male. The abnormal physical findings in the affected persons were predominantly associated with the oral structures. The need for early identification and diagnosis is imperative in the management of the affected females. This approach assists in the control of serious dental complications and allows for a professional overview of the growth and development of facial form. Also, supportive counseling acts as an aid in the control of emotional disturbances that can be associated with physical form and function. Since this syndrome is transmitted as an X-linked dominant affecting females, genetic counseling becomes a necessity in the care and management of the family and affected patients.

Abbreviated case report: Cementifying fibroma of the mandible

Abstract A case of cementifying fibroma of the mandible in a 56-year-old man is presented. The uniqueness of this case lies in the time factor, which exemplifies the localized growing destructive capabilities shown by this tumor on rare occasions.