Orofacial Lesions Research Articles

Efficacy of Computed Tomography and Ultrasonography in Diagnosis of Metastatic Cervical Lymph Nodes in Orofacial Cancer.

Introduction:There is no consensus on which imaging modality is better for the detection of metastatic cervical lymph nodes in orofacial malignancies. This study evaluates the efficacy of computed tomography (CT) and ultrasonography (US) in diagnosis of metastatic cervical lymph nodes in orofacial cancer. Materials and Methods:Sixty patients with various histologically diagnosed orofacial malignant lesions and clinical evidence of cervical lymph node metastasis were examined using US and CT. Further, the affected lymph nodes were biopsied and examined histologically. The sensitivity, specificity, positive predictive value (PPV), negative predictive value (NPV), and accuracy of the techniques were calculated. The data was analyzed using Statistical Package for Social Sciences (SPSS) version 19 (SPSS Inc., Chicago, IL, USA) and Microsoft Excel 2010 (Microsoft, Redmond, WA, USA). Test of statistical significance was set at 0.05. Results:US recorded a sensitivity, specificity, PPV, NPV, and accuracy of 80.0%, 57.1%, 77.5%, 60.0%, and 71.7%, respectively (P = 0.004), while CT recorded a sensitivity, specificity, PPV, NPV, and accuracy of 87.1%, 71.4%, 85.0%, 75.0%, and 81.7%, respectively (P< 0.0001). Lymph node size was the commonest criterion in the diagnoses of metastases in cases with cervical lymph nodes.Conclusion:Although we obtained great results using US, our results indicated CT to be a better imaging modality for detecting metastatic cervical lymph nodes in orofacial malignancies.

Viral infection of human neurons triggers strain-specific differences in host neuronal and viral transcriptomes.

Infection with herpes simplex virus 1 (HSV-1) occurs in over half the global population, causing recurrent orofacial and/or genital lesions. Individual strains of HSV-1 demonstrate differences in neurovirulence in vivo, suggesting that viral genetic differences may impact phenotype. Here differentiated SH-SY5Y human neuronal cells were infected with one of three HSV-1 strains known to differ in neurovirulence in vivo. Host and viral RNA were sequenced simultaneously, revealing strain-specific differences in both viral and host transcription in infected neurons. Neuronal morphology and immunofluorescence data highlight the pathological changes in neuronal cytoarchitecture induced by HSV-1 infection, which may reflect host transcriptional changes in pathways associated with adherens junctions, integrin signaling, and others. Comparison of viral protein levels in neurons and epithelial cells demonstrated that a number of differences were neuron-specific, suggesting that strain-to-strain variations in host and virus transcription are cell type-dependent. Together, these data demonstrate the importance of studying virus strain- and cell-type-specific factors that may contribute to neurovirulence in vivo, and highlight the specificity of HSV-1–host interactions.

A German AWMF’s S2e/realist synthesis and meta-narrative snapshot of craniomaxillofacial manifestations in COVID-19 patients: Rapid living update on 1 January 2021

PurposesTo execute a review answering the following question: “Among novel coronavirus disease (COVID19) patients, what are craniomaxillofacial (CMF) manifestations?” based on the RAMESES and the German Association of Scientific Medical Societies (AWMF)’s S2e guidelines. MethodsWe performed a realist synthesis and meta-narrative review extracting data in English, French, German and Thai from PubMed/Medline, Embase, Biomed Central, Cochrane Library, and Thai Journals Online, until 1 January 2021. The primary outcome variable was CMF manifestations grouped into 5 categories: (1) mouth and throat, (2) nose, paranasal sinus, and skull base (3) ocular/orbital and periorbital tissue, (4) ear, and (5) craniofacial skin. Appropriate statistics was computed. ResultsThirty-seven original articles meeting the inclusion criteria were analysed; all were in English and indexed in PubMed/Medline. Hand searches of their references yielded a total of 101 articles for the review. Most data were in low level of evidence and focused on smell and taste disturbances and non-specific orofacial lesions. Iatrogenic complications may occur in this body region. Conservative measures remained effective and were usually enough for patient care. ConclusionBecause SARS-CoV-2 infection is new and becomes the stringent worldwide pandemic within a short time period, most of the data on CMF symptoms are of low level evidence. Apart from taste and smell dysfunctions, non-specific CMF lesions can be found and treated conservatively. Treatment complications are possible. Dentists and CMF surgeons are privileged to examine the orofacial region and work closely with colleagues in other specialities to combat this pandemic.

Management of Chondrosarcomas of the Jaws in a Nigerian Tertiary Hospital.

Background:There is a dearth of literature on the diagnostic characteristics and treatment outcomes for chondrosarcomas of the jaws in our environment due to the rarity of the lesion.Objectives:The aim of this study was to review the demographic data, presenting symptoms, location, radiographic findings, histological findings, treatment, and outcomes in chondrosarcoma of the jaws.Materials and Methods:A retrospective medical record review was undertaken of all patients diagnosed with chondrosarcoma of the jaws at our center between 2000 and 2020.Results:Ten patients (3%) were identified among 333 patients with orofacial neoplastic lesions. The mean age was 26.6 years (standard deviation [SD] 20.6 years, range 14–82 years). The male-to-female ratio was 1:1. Eight (80.0%) patients had jaw swelling and the average duration of symptoms on presentation was 18 months. Maxillary location occurred in six (60.0%) patients. Radiographically, all the lesions appeared radiolucent without clearly defined borders. All patients had only radical resection, except one who had adjuvant chemotherapy as well. Recurrence occurred in three (30.0%) patients and one of the patients died. The mean follow-up was 3 years (range 1–5 years).Conclusions:Chondrosarcomas in this study affected relatively young patients, with painless jaw swelling being the most common presenting symptom. Men and women were equally affected. Radiolucent lesions and conventional histological types were the most common. Radical surgery alone was the most common modality of treatment and the outcomes were good.

Orofacial lesions associated with long-term highly active antiretroviral therapy among HIV-seropositive adults in Ibadan, Nigeria.

Introductionhighly active antiretroviral therapy (HAART) has contributed to a reduction in HIV- related oral lesions and improved quality of life among HIV seropositive patients. However, the therapy is not without its side effects. This study was aimed at assessing the self- reported orofacial manifestations due to long term use of HAART, as well as the pattern of oral lesions on examination.Methodsthis was a cross-sectional study conducted among HIV seropositive adult patients in Ibadan, who had been on HAART for at least two years. Data were collected using an interviewer-administered questionnaire. Clinical diagnosis of HIV-related oral lesions was made according to the EC-Clearinghouse criteria. Data analysis was done using SPSS version 25.Resultsthe study participants comprised of 227 HIV seropositive patients who were HAART experienced, with 54 (24%) males and 173 (76%) females. Their mean age (±SD) was 44.7 (±9.4) years. The participants CD4 count ranged from 13-1338cells/mm3, with a median count of 341 cells/mm3. About half (45%) of the participants noted one or more orofacial changes since they commenced HAART. These oral changes included dryness of mouth, burning sensation, abnormal taste, melanotic hyperpigmentation, oral thrush, ulcers, and parotid swelling. Most of those who reported oral changes had been on HAART over 10 years (p=0.03), and the changes were more reported among those on the first-line regimen.Conclusionmelanotic hyperpigmentation was the most common oral lesion found and burning mouth syndrome was the most commonly reported complain among HIV-seropositive adults who are on long-term HAART.

Geographically structured genomic diversity of non-human primate-infecting Treponema pallidum subsp. pertenue.

Many non-human primate species in sub-Saharan Africa are infected with Treponema pallidum subsp. pertenue , the bacterium causing yaws in humans. In humans, yaws is often characterized by lesions of the extremities and face, while T. pallidum subsp. pallidum causes venereal syphilis and is typically characterized by primary lesions on the genital, anal or oral mucosae. It remains unclear whether other T. pallidum subspecies found in humans also occur in non-human primates and how the genomic diversity of non-human primate T. pallidum subsp. pertenue lineages is distributed across hosts and space. We observed orofacial and genital lesions in sooty mangabeys (Cercocebus atys) in Taï National Park, Côte d’Ivoire and collected swabs and biopsies from symptomatic animals. We also collected non-human primate bones from 8 species in Taï National Park and 16 species from 11 other sites across sub-Saharan Africa. Samples were screened for T. pallidum DNA using polymerase chain reactions (PCRs) and we used in-solution hybridization capture to sequence T. pallidum genomes. We generated three nearly complete T. pallidum genomes from biopsies and swabs and detected treponemal DNA in bones of six non-human primate species in five countries, allowing us to reconstruct three partial genomes. Phylogenomic analyses revealed that both orofacial and genital lesions in sooty mangabeys from Taï National Park were caused by T. pallidum subsp. pertenue . We showed that T. pallidum subsp. pertenue has infected non-human primates in Taï National Park for at least 28 years and has been present in two non-human primate species that had not been described as T. pallidum subsp. pertenue hosts in this ecosystem, western chimpanzees (Pan troglodytes verus) and western red colobus (Piliocolobus badius), complementing clinical evidence that started accumulating in Taï National Park in 2014. More broadly, simian T. pallidum subsp. pertenue strains did not form monophyletic clades based on host species or the symptoms caused, but rather clustered based on geography. Geographical clustering of T. pallidum subsp. pertenue genomes might be compatible with cross-species transmission of T. pallidum subsp. pertenue within ecosystems or environmental exposure, leading to the acquisition of closely related strains. Finally, we found no evidence for mutations that confer antimicrobial resistance.

Study of Histopathological Variants of Orofacial Lipoma in a Nigerian Population

Background: The rarity of lipoma in the orofacial region has made it difficult to ascertain the clinicopathological pattern of orofacial lipoma in our environment. This study aims to determine the age, gender, sites and histopathological variants of orofacial lipoma in a Nigerian population.Materials and Methods: A 21-year retrospective review was performed on patients' clinical notes, histopathology slides and reports of all histopathologically diagnosed orofacial lesions in the Department of Oral Pathology and Medicine, University of Benin Teaching Hospital, Benin City, Nigeria.Results: Of the 1116 diagnosed lesions within the study period, there were 15 (1.3%) cases of lipoma. There was a female to male ratio of 2:1, with a mean th age of 31 + 1.2 years and the peak age group was the 4 decade of life (n=6, 40.0%). The buccal mucosa (n=8, 53.3%) and the forehead (n=4, 26.7%) were the commonest orofacial sites of the lesion. The conventional lipoma (n=8, 53.3%) was the predominant lesion, followed by angiolipoma (n=3, 20.0%), fibrolipoma (n=2, 13.3%), spindle cell lipoma (n=1, 6.7%) and intramuscular lipoma (n=1, 6.7%).Conclusion: This study observed a low prevalence of orofacial lipoma comparable to previous reports. The lesion occurred predominantly in adult females and the buccal mucosa was the commonest orofacial site. Apart from the conventional lipoma, angiolipoma was the second most frequent histopathological variant of the lesion. Early surgical intervention and histopathological evaluation of clinically suspicious cases of orofacial lipoma is recommended to avoid facial disfigurement and to rule out a malignant lesion mimicking the benign type.&#x0D;

PREVALENCE OF ORAL LESIONS AFTER RENAL TRANSPLANTATION: PROSPECTIVE STUDY

Objective: The objective of this study is to assess the prevalence of oral lesions in a cohort of renal transplant recipients before and just after transplantation. Study design: This is a cohort study involving 80 renal transplant recipients. The same researcher/dentist evaluated orofacial characteristics at the 3 different time points: immediately before transplantation, 15 to 20 days after transplantation, and 45 to 60 days after renal transplantation. Oral lesions were photographed and a presumptive diagnosis was established. Results: Immediately before transplantation, 3 of the 80 participants (3.7%) showed some oral soft tissue lesions. In the second and third time periods, 23.7% (18 out of 76) and 25.7% (19 out of 74) of the participants showed oral soft tissue lesions, respectively. Ulcers and candidiasis were the most frequent lesions associated with the use of everolimus (P = .023) and azathioprine (P = .034), respectively. Fewer patients reported xerostomia after transplantation than before (P < .001) and 8 renal transplant recipients presented with bilateral parotid gland enlargement in the third time period (P = .013). Conclusions: Orofacial lesions are common after renal transplantation in the short term and are particularly related to both toxicities of immunosuppressive drugs and immunosuppression. Apoio financeiro: São Paulo Research foundation (FAPESP) Objective: The objective of this study is to assess the prevalence of oral lesions in a cohort of renal transplant recipients before and just after transplantation. Study design: This is a cohort study involving 80 renal transplant recipients. The same researcher/dentist evaluated orofacial characteristics at the 3 different time points: immediately before transplantation, 15 to 20 days after transplantation, and 45 to 60 days after renal transplantation. Oral lesions were photographed and a presumptive diagnosis was established. Results: Immediately before transplantation, 3 of the 80 participants (3.7%) showed some oral soft tissue lesions. In the second and third time periods, 23.7% (18 out of 76) and 25.7% (19 out of 74) of the participants showed oral soft tissue lesions, respectively. Ulcers and candidiasis were the most frequent lesions associated with the use of everolimus (P = .023) and azathioprine (P = .034), respectively. Fewer patients reported xerostomia after transplantation than before (P < .001) and 8 renal transplant recipients presented with bilateral parotid gland enlargement in the third time period (P = .013). Conclusions: Orofacial lesions are common after renal transplantation in the short term and are particularly related to both toxicities of immunosuppressive drugs and immunosuppression. Apoio financeiro: São Paulo Research foundation (FAPESP)

Comparison of image quality of head and neck lesions between 3D gradient echo sequences with compressed sensing and the multi-slice spin echo sequence.

BackgroundAlthough magnetic resonance imaging (MRI) provides excellent soft-tissue contrast, long acquisition times are major disadvantages.PurposeTo evaluate the usefulness of compressed sensing (CS) for contrast-enhanced oral and maxillofacial MRI by comparing the 3D T1 turbo field echo with compressed SENSE (CS-3D-T1TFE) sequence with the multi-slice spin echo (MS-SE) sequence as the reference standard.Material and MethodsThirty patients with orofacial lesions participated in this study. The scan times for MS-SE and CS-3D-T1TFE were 5 min 56 s and 1 min 43 s, respectively. The signal-to-noise ratio (SNR) was calculated for quantitative analysis and seven parameters (degree of lesion conspicuity, motion artifacts, metal artifacts, pulsation artifacts, quality of fat suppression, homogeneity of blood vessel signal intensity, and overall image quality) were evaluated using a 5-point scale (5 = excellent, 1 = unacceptable) by two observers for qualitative analysis. For comparisons between MS-SE and CS-3D-T1TFE, the paired t-test was used.ResultsThe SNR of CS-3D-T1TFE was higher than or equal to that of MS-SE. The CS-3D-T1TFE scores for motion artifacts, pulsation artifacts, and homogeneity of blood vessel signal intensity were higher than the corresponding MS-SE scores in assessments by both observers. The MS-SE scores for fat suppression were higher than or equal to the CS-3D-T1TFE scores. There were no significant differences in lesion conspicuity, metal artifacts, and overall image quality between the two sequences.ConclusionCS-3D-T1TFE imaging, less than 30% of the scan time for MS-SE, showed no image degradation while retaining equal or higher SNR and image quality.

Exploring trends in reported orofacial lesions in Dubai: A single-centre retrospective study.

Patients often present in dental settings with orofacial lesions, which can be challenging to diagnose clinically due to their heterogenous characteristics. This can have serious implications for patient health, especially for head and neck tumours, which can undergo rapid metastatic spread (Kalele, Kulkarni, Patil, and Nayyar 2016). Histological examinations provide crucial diagnostic information and can indicate the likelihood of a malignant transformation, which impacts prognosis and optimal treatment planning (Logan and Goss, 2010). Histo-diagnostic data can also generate epidemiological information to guide regional healthcare policies.

Utility of a diffusion kurtosis model in the differential diagnosis of orofacial tumours

To compare the goodness of fit and correlations between diffusion kurtosis imaging (DKI) and a mono-exponential (ME) model, to compare the corrected apparent diffusion coefficient (Dapp) and apparent kurtosis (Kapp) of the DKI model, and the apparent diffusion coefficient (ADC) of the ME model among the various orofacial lesions, and to evaluate the diagnostic performances between the two models. A total of 100 orofacial lesions underwent echo-planar diffusion magnetic resonance imaging (MRI) with four b-values. The goodness of fit was evaluated using Akaike information criterion. The correlations of the diffusion-derived parameters were evaluated. The diagnostic performance was analysed by receiver operating characteristics (ROC). The DKI model showed a significantly better goodness of fit than the ME model (p<0.0001). The Kapp had a strongly negative correlation with the Dapp (ρ=-0.749) and ADC (ρ=-0.938). A strongly positive correlation existed between the Dapp and ADC (ρ=0.906). All parameters differed significantly between benign tumours and malignant tumours (p<0.05). In differentiating benign tumours from the malignant tumours, the AUC of Dapp (0.871) was larger than that of ADC (0.805); however, a significant difference was not found (p=0.102). The DKI model had better goodness of fit than the ME model. Furthermore, the Dapp and Kapp were also characteristic for each pathological category; however, the DKI model did not yield a significantly higher diagnostic performance than the ME model, which might be related to the high correlation among the diffusion-derived parameters and wide variation among categories.

Oral Health Practices And Status Of 12-Year-Old Pupils In The Western Region Of Cameroon

Dental caries, though common, presents with considerable variation in occurrence between countries, regions within countries, areas within regions, and among social and ethnic groups. The aim of this study was to describe the oral health status and practices of primary school children in the western region of Cameroon.&#x0D; This was a comparative descriptive cross sectional study took place in April to October 2018 in primary schools located in three localities (Urban, semi urban and rural) of the West region of Cameroon using a multistage random (cluster) sampling technique.&#x0D; There were a predominance of female pupils 265(54.9 %) than males 218 (45.1 %) and 411 (85.1 %) of the pupils had toothbrushes with the majority from urban areas 142 (94.7%). The frequency of brushing was higher in urban than the semi-urban and rural areas and 212 (50.5) of them brushed teeth once a day and nearly half 184 (43.8) twice daily. More than half 238 (56.7) of the children brush before breakfast wake up less than half brush 176 (42%) brush after supper. Two third 280(66.8%) of the children brush their teeth with toothbrush and without toothpaste 54(39.4%) was higher in rural areas. Wood ash 7 (5.1%), soap 4(2.9%) and chewing sticks 3(2, 2%) were most frequently used for brushing in rural areas. The majority 395 (82 %) of the children had plaque, 73(15.1 %) presented with dental mal positions, 341 (70.6 %) with bleeding gums and 223 (46.2 %) had calculus which was predominant in lower incisors. The prevalence of dental caries in the entire population was 28.1%.The majority of pupils 346 (71.6 %) were caries free and 01 (0.2 %) had a missing tooth due to decay. None of the children presented with filled teeth. The mean DMFT was higher in the rural (0.39) as compared to the semi urban (0.18) and the urban (0.09) respectively. The mean DMFT index of the entire population was 0.28 while 135(27.9%) of the pupils presented with enamel caries which was predominant in the first permanent molar, 19 (47.2%) presented with deep caries mostly in the second deciduous molars and 8 (22.5%) presented with enamel caries on the second deciduous molars. Dental trauma 12 (2.5%) was mostly found in the upper central incisors. More than a third 61(36.1%) of the pupils who presented with gingivitis were from rural areas,43(25,4%) from semi urban, and 40(26.7%) from urban areas. Almost all the children who lived in semi-urban 157(92.9%) and in urban areas 150 (78.7%) consumed cariogenic diets. A third of the children who ate in-between meals lived in urban areas149 (34.2%) while 123 (72.8%) of the children in semi-urban areas were conscious of their oral hygiene, and 61 (37.2%) of the children’s food are controlled by the parents. Only 37 (7.7 %) of the children have done have ever been to a dentist.&#x0D; The prevalence of dental caries, periodontal diseases and other orofacial lesions in the western region of Cameroon was low. Dental caries was found to be higher in rural and urban areas.&#x0D; Collaboration between the ministries of health and basic education is necessary as a measure to institute oral health education in primary schools. This will go a long way to reduce inequalities in oral health by improving in the oral practices.

Clinicopathologic Analysis of Biopsied Orofacial Lesions Seen in Children in a Tertiary Health Centre in Port Harcourt: An 11-Year Review

Background: Orofacial lesions in children and adolescents are diverse and show variation in prevalence from one region to another. Previous Nigerian studies on orofacial lesions in this age group have focused on tumours and tumour-like lesions, with the exclusion of cysts and some inflammatory/reactive lesions. The aim of this study was to describe the demographic characteristics of all biopsied orofacial lesions seen in children and adolescents aged 16 years and below. Materials and Methods: This retrospective study reviewed histopathology records over an 11-year period for histologically diagnosed lesions in patients aged 16 years and below. All such cases were extracted, and the age, gender, site and histopathologic diagnosis were recorded for each case. Lesions were categorized into three groups: inflammatory/reactive, cystic and neoplastic, with the neoplastic lesions sub-divided into benign and malignant. Patients were categorized into three age groups: 0 - 5 years, 6 - 12 years and 13 - 16 years. Data analysis was done using SPSS version 23. Results: A total of 109 biopsied lesions were seen in children ≤ 16 years during the period under review, representing 20.8% of all biopsied lesions during the same period. The patients’ age ranged from 4 months to 16 years, with a mean age of 10.4 ± 4.1 years and the lesions were encountered most frequently in the 6 - 12 years age group (45.9%). There was no gender predilection and the mandible (30.3%), maxilla (20.2%) and gingiva (22.9%) were the most frequently involved sites. Neoplastic, Inflammatory/reactive and Cystic lesions constituted 52.3%, 35.8% and 11.9% of cases respectively. The most frequent histopathologic diagnoses were pyogenic granuloma (16.5%) and unicystic ameloblastoma (12.8%). The most common inflammatory/reactive lesion was pyogenic granuloma (46.2%) and it was significantly associated with the gingiva (p = 0.000). Unicystic ameloblastoma was the most common neoplastic lesion, while dentigerous cyst was the most frequently encountered cystic lesion. Conclusion: Most orofacial lesions in children aged 16 years or below are either benign neoplasms or inflammatory/reactive lesions, with the three most common diagnoses being pyogenic granuloma, unicystic ameloblastoma and dentigerous cyst. The mandible is the most commonly affected site.

Orofacial pigmentary lesions in the pediatric age group: A descriptive observational study

Background: Pigmentary disorders on the face are frequently encountered in all age groups and both genders but are more common in pediatric patients. These lesions can be isolated incidental findings or indicative of a congenital or acquired systemic or genetic disorder. Aims and Objectives: The aim and objective of this study is to study the frequency and pattern of pigmented orofacial lesions in the pediatric age group and to describe the underlying associated condition if any. Materials and Methods: A descriptive study was conducted over a period of 6 months (June–November 2018) in the dermatology department of a tertiary care hospital in Eastern Uttar Pradesh. All the children from 2 to 14 years of age who reported to us with complaints of pigmentary lesions on the face or oral cavity were included, and attempt was made to find out if any underlying conditions. Results: A total of 207 children were included in the study. Pityriasis alba was the most common pigmentary disorder on the face in the study population in 146 (70.5%) children, while pityriasis versicolor was noted in 21 (10.1%). Other facial dermatoses noted were vitiligo, congenital melanocytic nevus, and postinflammatory hypopigmentation and hyperpigmentation. Eight (3.8%) children had associated underlying diseases such as xeroderma pigmentosum, dyskeratosis congenita, Vitamin B12 deficiency, Laugier–Hunziker syndrome, and juvenile dermatomyositis. Conclusions: Pigmentary disorders of the face and oral cavity are frequently seen in children which forms a major part of dermatology consultation. Although most of these disorders are of cosmetic concerns, few conditions are associated with systemic conditions. A thorough investigation and management are the keys to manage such cases.

Comparative Sero-prevalence of Herpes Simplex Virus Type-1 IgG Antibodies in Nigerian Children by Two Methods; IFA and ELISA

Herpes simplex virus type-1 (HSV-1) are common cause of fatal sporadic encephalitis in 70% of children and can cause chronic ulcerative infection in immuno- suppressed children leading to latency with subsequent reactivate in the conjunctiva resulting in scarring, thickening of the cornea and blindness. This comparative study determined the sero-prevalence of HSV-1 IgG antibodies in children attending some selected Hospitals in Kaduna state, Nigeria. A total of 377 blood samples were collected from children less than five years old attending some selected hospitals in Kaduna State and analyzed for HSV-1 IgG antibodies employing Enzyme immune assay technique by using commercially available ELISA Kits and Indirect Fluorescent Antibody (IFA) test. Sero-prevalence rate of 57.8 % (218 /377) was obtained by ELISA and 67.4% (255/377) by IFA test. The highest prevalence of HSV-1 infection was obtained in children in age group 49-60 months (85.2%) and lowest in children in age group 13-24 months (44.8%). Herpes simplex virus type -1 infection was significantly associated with age. Though a higher prevalence was obtained in female children than male children the difference observed in the prevalence was not statistically significant .The infection was significantly associated with children who were in school (χ2= 15.28, df = 1, P= 0.001) by only the ELISA test. Clinical symptoms significantly associated with HSV-1infection in children in this study were febrile illnesses, conjunctivitis, jaundice, skin infections and oro-facial lesions while the risk factors were age and educational status of children. Over half of the children sampled were protected from HSV-1 infection while about 40% of the children were susceptible to the infection and were at risk of developing severe HSV-1 manifestation which includes keratitis, encephalitis and Keratoconjunctivitis.

Orofacial Lesions among Denture Wearers

Introduction: Removable dentures are being used as a replacement for missing teeth to restore function and aesthetics that has resulted in improved quality of life. However, different orofacial lesions may be presented as an associated complication to these appliances.Aim: The present study aims at investigating the prevalence of denture-related lesions (DRLs) among the denture wearers.Method: This was a descriptive, cross-sectional study. Clinical examination of 167 individuals with dentures was conducted from December 2013 to April 2014. Data form was designed to collect general information including personal data (e.g., age, gender), smoking practice, and frequency, duration and number of DRLs. The data were analyzed using the IBM SPSS software, version 22 (SPSS, Inc. IBM, Chicago, IL, USA). The responses were expressed as percentages.Results: A total of 167 patients (82 men and 85 women) with a mean age of 58 years were enrolled in the present study. Of them, 84 had partial dentures while 75 had complete dentures. Eight patients had upper complete dentures and lower partial dentures. Different DRLs were reported. Sixty-six participants (39.5%) had one or more denture-related abnormalities. Traumatic ulceration was the most common denture-associated lesions and was observed in 25 (15%) participants.Conclusion: DRLs were found to be more common among complete denture wearers than in partial denture wearers. However, regular follow-ups would help in early detection of the unnoticed abnormalities or complications of the dentures.

Sports dentistry awareness in a population of young basketball players: a pilot study

Introduction: Practicing sports places the human body at constant risk of injury. The most vulnerable and less protected body area is the face, thus, a greater risk for orofacial injury exists, being the most common: dental injury [1,2]. Dentistry and sports are usually connected by dental trauma [1]. Sports dentistry is not only the treatment of dental and/or orofacial injuries but also its prevention and the empowerment of athletes to ensure better results [1]. The aim of this study was to access the level of awareness to dental injury in young basketball players. Materials and methods: A sample of 97 individuals with ages between 12 and 17 from a total of 141 Sport Lisboa e Benfica basketball team’s players were selected. These were evaluated and characterized by: age, sex, dentist visits and basketball specific guidelines from dentists. Informed consent from parents was obtained. Prior to data collecting the Ethics Committee of the Instituto Universitário Egas Moniz approved the study. A descriptive statistical analysis with crosstabs procedures was applied to check frequencies using the SPSS Statistics 20.0 software. Results: Average age was 13,6 years. 42,3% of the population were women with an average age of 13,6 years and 13,7 for the men. From the players that visit the dentist, 26,8% of the male population and 24,4% of female population received guidelines to their specific sports activity. 3,6% of the male received guidelines but they didn’t visit the dentist. Discussion and conclusions: There is a high prevalence of orofacial lesions in basketball players and a low awareness and perception of the importance of the use of mouthguards [3]. It is necessary to educate and inform through dentists, both players and coaches, for sports dentistry to be improved. A dentist should be part of the teams to raise awareness about oral injuries and to increase prevention [4]. Only about a quarter of the young basketball players surveyed were instructed by a dentist, suggesting that there is no awareness among the teams of adding a dentist to the medical monitoring of their athletes.

Oral mucosal melanoma in four Nigerian teaching hospitals.

Oral mucosal melanoma (OMM) is a malignant lesion of melanocytes of oral epithelium. The prevalence in four Nigerian teaching hospitals is reported. This study shows the hospital based prevalence and the clinicopathologic features of OMM in four Nigerian teaching hospitals. A retrospective study of patients diagnosed with OMM in four teaching hospitals in Nigeria was carried out. All records of patients with orofacial lesions from 1969 to 2016 were identified and retrieved from the archives of four oral pathology departments. The biodata and relevant clinicopathologic information of those diagnosed with OMM were reviewed. Data analysis was done with SPSS for Windows, version 20. There were 10,877 orofacial lesions managed during the period. Oral malignant lesions constituted 14.4% (1,552/10,877). OMM was diagnosed in ten patients with prevalences of 0.09% and 0.6% of all orofacial lesions and oral malignancies, respectively. There was a male predilection of 4:1 and a mean age of occurrence of 53.8 (±12.6) years. The palate was the most frequent site, 40.0% (4/10). Regional lymph nodes were hard, fixed, or matted in 50.0% (5/10) of patients and distant metastases observed in 20.0% (2/10). Among those followed up, only one was documented alive after 6 months. Amelanotic OMM, 20.0% (2/10) did not show ulceration or regional and distant metastasis. OMM has a low prevalence but with poor prognosis. Amelanotic OMM showed less clinical aggression. Early diagnosis and prompt treatment are recommended.

Image Quality and ADC Assessment in Turbo Spin-Echo and Echo-Planar Diffusion-Weighted MR Imaging of Tumors of the Head and Neck

We aimed to compare the distortion ratio (DR), signal-to-noise ratio (SNR), and contrast-to-noise ratio (CNR) between turbo spin-echo (TSE)-diffusion-weighted imaging (DWI) and echo-planar imaging (EPI)-DWI of the orofacial region and prove the usefulness of TSE-DWI for the differential diagnosis of orofacial lesions. The DR, SNR, and CNR of both sequences were compared in 42 cases. Then, the apparent diffusion coefficient (ADC) of various orofacial lesions obtained by TSE-DWI was investigated in 143 lesions. In the first study, 38 of 42 cases were analyzed. TSE-DWI showed a significantly lower DR (p < 0.05) and higher SNR and CNR than EPI-DWI (p < 0.05), indicating the superiority of TSE-DWI. In the second study, 114 cases (79.3%) were successfully analyzed. When lesions were divided into cysts, benign tumors, squamous cell carcinoma, malignant lymphoma, and other malignant tumors (OT), significant differences were observed in all pairs of lesions (p < 0.05) except squamous cell carcinoma and OT (p = 0.877). The area under the curve for distinguishing benign from malignant tumors was 0.80 with a cutoff ADC of 1.29 × 10-3 mm²/s. TSE-DWI produced better quality images than EPI-DWI. TSE-DWI yields the high possibility of obtaining ADC in the orofacial region, and this value was considered useful for the differential diagnosis of orofacial lesions.

Paracoccidioidomycosis with Intra- and Extraoral Presentation

A 43-year-old black man was referred to a public oral and maxillofacial pathology service by a physician for evaluation of symptomatic orofacial lesions. The patient reported weight loss and inappetence since the lesion onset, 4 months prior. He was cigarette smoker for 29 years. An extraoral examination revealed macrocheilia and a vegetative ulcerative lesion on the upper and lower lips, extending to the perioral region. An intraoral examination was difficult due to limited mouth opening; however, granulomatous lesions were observed on the palate. A chest radiography was requested and showed a discrete bilateral radiopaque image on the lungs. An incisional biopsy was then performed on the lower lip region, under local anesthesia, and the histopathological diagnosis was paracoccidioidomycosis. The patient was referred for treatment in a hospital setting at a reference center for infectious diseases. Support: FAPEMIG.