Sumita Mahajan

Micronucleus—an upcoming marker of genotoxic damage

This study was conceived for the early detection of oral precancer and cancer lesions using a noninvasive reliable technique. Micronucleus assay was performed on oral exfoliated cells of chosen subjects having leukoplakia and squamous cell carcinoma (SCC) using fluorescent (Acridine Orange) and conventional (Feulgen) stainings. The results were analyzed using Mann–Whitney U test, Kruskal–Wallis test, Spearman’s Correlation and SPSS statistical package. The frequency of mean percentage occurrence of micronucleated cells increased significantly in comparison to controls with leukoplakia and squamous cell carcinoma. Subjects with synergism of abnormal oral habits also showed increased micronucleated cells. Fluorescent staining was found to be more sensitive than the conventional one for micronucleus detection. The results clearly demonstrate that micronucleus assay in oral exfoliated cells can be used as a simple reliable marker to assess the genotoxicity and for the early diagnosis of premalignant and malignant lesions. Micronucleus assay is, thus, an easy tool for early detection of cancer.

Oral myiasis misinterpreted as salivary gland adenoma

Myiasis (Myia: “Fly” in Greek), the term coined by Hope in 18401,2 is the infestation of living body tissues of animals by fly larvae.3–5 In 1965, Zumpt1 defined it as infestation of live humans and vertebrates with dipterous larvae, which at least for a certain period feed on the host’s dead or living tissue, liquid body substances or ingested food.1 Flies causing myiasis belong to the order Diptera.1,2 In orofacial myiasis, soft tissues of the oral cavity are invaded by parasitic larvae of flies. Lawrence1 first described oral myiasis in 1909.1 It has been reported mainly in developing countries such …

Maxillofacial fibrous dysplasia

Fibrous dysplasia is a non- neoplastic hamartomatous developmental fibro osseous lesion of bone. This paper provides a brief overview of fibrous dysplasia in a historic perspective and highlights the controversies in fibrous dysplasia seen in the cranio- maxillofacial lesions. A case report of a young woman is presented who was diagnosed as having maxillofacial fibrous dysplasia, thereby making an attempt to use this term in cases with relatively limited facial bone disease.

Morphometric Analysis of Nuclear Features and Volume-Corrected Mitotic Index in the Prognosis of Oral Squamous Cell Carcinoma

Abstract In the present study, an objective and reproducible evaluation of mitotic activity and nuclear morphometric factors was attempted in 30 patients of oral squamous cell carcinoma with a view to predicting local relapse and survival. Various nuclear parameters and volume-corrected mitotic index were calculated and compared with the recurrence and death of the study group (n = 30). Volume-corrected mitotic index (M/V, index) was the single best prognosticator for recurrence of oral squamous cell carcinoma (p = 0.008 for recurrence; p=0.015 for death). The combination of M/V and SD of nuclear area (forward stepwise regression) was a more efficient and better predictor of survival (Log rank test, Kaplan-Meiers survival analysis; χ 2 = 17.46, p=0.00001). The present study proved the effectiveness of the M/V index ill predicting the biological behavior and the outcome of oral squamous cell carcinoma patients.