René Martínez

Prevalence of oral mucosal lesions in an elderly population in the city of Valparaiso, Chile

OBJECTIVE Chilean population is ageing, which means an increase in the prevalence of multiple pathologies, including those located in the oral cavity. AIM To measure the prevalence and distribution of oral mucosal lesions and to identify associated risk factors in elderly patients in the city of Valparaiso. MATERIAL AND METHODS This study includes 126 patients over 60 years. The sample was calculated with a sampling error of 3.7% from a population size of 6000 file cards. Frequency and contingency tables were made together with odds ratios, with a confidence interval of 95%. Finally, we built a predictive model based on a binary logistic regression. RESULTS From the whole sample, 85 patients (67.5%) had some oral mucosal lesion. The most frequent lesions were denture-induced stomatitis (37.1%). It was noted that there is a statistically significant association between the use of denture and the presence of oral candidiasis. The consumption of drugs and the use of denture increase the likelihood of having oral mucosal lesions. CONCLUSION There is a high prevalence of oral lesions in the elderly patients of Valparaiso. The use of drugs and /or denture increases significantly the likelihood that a person over 60 years presents lesions in the oral mucosa.

Incidence and prevalence of salivary gland tumours in Valparaiso, Chile

Background To determine the incidence and prevalence of salivary gland tumours in the province of Valparaíso, Chile. Material and Methods Retrospective review of salivary gland tumours diagnosed between the years 2000 and 2011 from four local pathology services. Information on demographics and histopathology were retrieved from the medical records. Results The study sample consisted of 279 salivary gland tumours. Prevalence and incidence rates per 100.000 persons were 15.4 and 2.51, respectively. Most of the neoplasms corresponded to benign tumours (70.3%). The most affected gland was the parotid gland. Pleomorphic adenoma was the most common benign tumour (53.8%) and mucoepidermoid carcinoma was the most common malignant tumour (7.2%). Conclusions Salivary gland tumours are uncommon neoplasms that usually arise in the parotid gland. Pleomorphic adenoma and mucoepidermoid carcinoma were the most common benign and malignant tumours reported in this series. Key words:Salivary gland tumours, benign tumours, malignant tumours, salivary glands neoplasms, cancer, neoplasia.

Morphea "en coup de sabre": An unusual oral presentation

Morphea, or localized scleroderma, is an inflammatory disease that leads to sclerosis of the skin and underlying tissues due to excessive collagen deposition. Oral involvement is unusual and it may produce white linear fibrotic areas with a scar-like appearance, atrophy of tongue papillae, gingival recession and alveolar bone resorption. We report a case of a 13-year-old girl who consulted for progressive recession on the attached gingiva of her upper left incisors. She also presented a hypopigmented line on the left side skin of her upper lip, which continued through the vermilion and the lip mucosa, including the gingiva of the affected teeth. Clinical examination, blood tests, computerized axial tomography, echo-Doppler ultrasound and histopathological evaluation confirmed the diagnosis of morphea. Treatment with methotrexate and systemic corticosteroids was conducted. After 24 months, no other lesions appeared. No adverse side effects have been reported so far. Key words:Localized scleroderma, oral morphea, linear scleroderma, oral involvement, intraoral lesions.

Alveolar soft-part sarcoma of the masseter and mandibular ramus: Report of a case and review of the literature

Alveolar soft-part sarcomas are clinically and morphologically distinct soft-tissue sarcomas, with an unknown histogenesis. When the tumors affect the region of the head and neck, they are often located in the orbit and tongue. We report a case of an alveolar soft-part sarcoma in the left masseter of a 28-year-old female. The patient had chronic pain and paresthesia of her left lower lip. Panoramic radiography and computed tomography showed a well-delimited radiolucent mass in the left ramus. An incisional biopsy was performed, and the sample submitted for histopathological study. The tumor showed positive periodic acid-Schiff diastase-resistant granules. Immunohistochemically, the tumor cells were diffusely positive for myoglobin, and focally positive for actin and desmin.

Impact of 1% malic acid spray on the oral health-related quality of life of patients with xerostomia

Dry mouth sensation, also known as xerostomia, is a common clinical problem with an increasing prevalence. Although recent studies have reported promissory results of malic acid, none have evaluated the impact of malic acid on the oral health-related quality of life (OHRQoL) of patients with xerostomia. Thus, this study aimed to evaluate the impact of 1% malic acid, combined with fluoride and xylitol, on the OHRQoL of patients with xerostomia. We enrolled 70 patients and randomly allocated them into two groups: the intervention group (applied topical sialogogue with 1% malic acid) and the control group (applied a placebo). We assessed the OHRQoL and severity of xerostomia before and after treatment with the Spanish version of the Oral Health Impact Profile-14 questionnaire (OHIP-14sp) and a visual analogue scale (VAS), respectively. In addition, stimulated and non-stimulated salivary flow rates before and after treatments were also measured. In total, 60 patients completed the study. According to the VAS, both sprays significantly improved dry mouth sensation (P < 0.001). However, OHIP-14sp total scores decreased significantly in the intervention group from 20.8 ± 10.4 to 16.5 ± 9.5 (P < 0.001), indicating an improvement in the OHRQoL. No significant differences were observed in the control group (P > 0.05). Furthermore, non-stimulated salivary flow rates significantly increased in the intervention group from 0.25 ± 0.22 to 0.33 ± 0.33 mL/min (P < 0.001). Overall, this study demonstrated that malic acid improves the OHRQoL and dry mouth sensation in patients with xerostomia.

Inmunoexpresión de E-cadherina y vimentina en mucosa oral normal, displasia epitelial oral y carcinoma oral de células escamosas

RESUMEN: El objetivo fue evaluar la inmunoexpresión de E-cadherina y Vimentina en mucosa oral normal (MON), displasia epitelial oral (DEO) y carcinoma oral de células escamosas (COCE). Se realizó un estudio descriptivo de una serie de casos anal izandolos mediante técnica de inmunohistoquímica contra E-cadherina y Vimentina 16 muestras de MON, 16 de DEO y 19 de COCE. La inmunotinción fue evaluada cualitativamente considerando extensión e intensidad para E-cadherina e intensidad para Vimentina. E l análisis de la extensión e intensidad de la inmunotinción de E-cadherina y Vimentina según diagnóstico reveló una asociación estadísticamente significativa (p<0,001). Siendo la expresión de E-cadherina más alta en MON, seguido por DEO y más baja en COC E, inversamente a lo que se observó con Vimentina. El presente estudio reveló la subregulación del marcador molecular E-cadherina junto con la expresión aberrante por parte de células epiteliales del marcador mesenquimal Vimentina en muestras de MON, DEO y COCE.

Utilidad de Tinción de Tricrómico de Masson en la Cuantificación de Densidad Media Vascular en Mucosa Oral Normal, Displasia Epitelial y Carcinoma Oral de Células Escamosas

RESUMEN: El objetivo de este estudio fue valuar la utilidad del uso de la tinción de Tricrómico de Masson (TM) en la cuantificación de la densidad media vascular (DMV) en Mucosa Oral Normal (MON), Displasia Epitelial Oral (DEO) y Carcinoma Oral de Células Escamosas (COCE). Estudio descriptivo de serie de casos. Se analizaron 17 muestras de MON, 15 muestras de DEO y 16 d e COCE, teñidas con TM. Para determinar su utilidad, se compararon con las mismas muestras analizadas con técnica de inmunohistoq uí ica contra CD31. La cuantificación de la DMV se realizó en las 3 áreas de mayor vascularización de cada muestra. Se determinó la DM V según diagnóstico mediante la tinción TM e inmunohistoquímica contra CD31, y se calculó la correlación entre ambos. La DMV cuantificada con TM y contra CD31 difiere según el diagnóstico, observándose un aumento de la DMV al malignizarse el diagnóstic o. No se encontraron diferencias al comparar la DMV cuantificada con TM y contra CD31. La correlación de la DMV analizado por TM y contra CD31 es significativa y moderada. La cuantificación de vasos sanguíneos es posible mediante la tinción de TM en muestras de MON, DEO y COCE, con una correlación moderada con la inmunohistoquímica contra CD31.