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Background/Objectives: Osteomyelitis is characterized by an inflammatory process affecting both bone and bone marrow, leading to cell death and the formation of bone sequestrum. Recent literature from the past five years has documented instances of osteomyelitis following infections of SARS-CoV-2. This systematic review explores the link between osteomyelitis of the jaw (OMJ) and COVID-19 infections. Methods: This review adhered to the PRISMA guidelines, systematically analyzing literature from 2020 to 2024 sourced from databases including Medline, Embase, Scopus, and Web of Science. PROSPERO ID: CRD42024526257. Results: The review selected 42 articles, detailing 201 cases of osteomyelitis of the jaw related to COVID-19 (COMJ). The demographic breakdown included 195 male (74.4%) and 67 female patients (25.6%), with a median age of 52.7 years, ranging from 24 to 71 years. A significant portion of COMJ patients (41.5%) were hospitalized due to COVID-19, and 58.5% received corticosteroid therapy. Diabetes mellitus was a common comorbidity among COMJ patients (65.1%). Most cases involved maxilla (182 cases; 90.5%), with nearly half showing sinus involvement (49.4%). The mandible was affected in 19 cases (9.5%). Mucormycosis and aspergillosis emerged as the predominant fungal infections, identified in 103 (51.2%) and 50 (24.9%) cases, respectively. Conclusions: Individuals with pre-existing health conditions such as diabetes mellitus who have been treated for COVID-19 are at an increased risk of developing OMJ, particularly maxillary fungal osteomyelitis. COMJ poses a significant diagnostic and therapeutic challenge for dental and maxillofacial professionals, who are often the first to encounter these cases. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Objectives: To assess the diagnostic delay, the number and type of referrals and the clinical and psychological profile in a wide sample of patients with Burning Mouth Syndrome (BMS). Materials and Methods: Data on the disease onset, oral symptoms, type and number of practitioners consulted, misdiagnoses, and the presence of medically unexplained extraoral physical symptoms were recorded in 500 BMS patients. Potential predictors of diagnostic delay were also evaluated. Results: The mean diagnostic delay was 29.71 ± 47.19 months. An average of 2.61 ± 1.65 practitioners were consulted by each patient, the most frequent being the general physicians (287; 57.4%), maxillofacial surgeons (111; 22.2%), and otolaryngologists (104; 20.8%). The mean number of misdiagnoses was 3.54 ± 1.85. Nonspecific stomatitis, candidiasis, and gastroesophageal reflux were the most common misdiagnoses. Higher age, low education, the presence of dysgeusia, and a previous history of psychiatric illness were predictors of a longer diagnostic delay (p‐value: 0.028, 0.050, 0.007, 0.034, respectively). Conclusions: The lack of knowledge among specialists, the high rate of misdiagnosis, and the diagnostic delay of BMS highlight the need to introduce educational interventions in all medical specialties in order to promote an early and appropriate diagnosis, thereby improving the prognosis and quality of life of the patients. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Simple Summary: Several oral problems occurring during cancer treatment can lead to the discontinuation or interruption of the scheduled treatment, with a negative impact on patient's overall survival. Very few studies focused on patients' self-reported oral problems during chemotherapy treatment for solid tumors. Through the administration of a dedicated questionnaire, we aim at correlating the presence of oral complications to demographic and medical information. Metastatic disease represented a risk factor for the onset of oral mucositis and salivary gland hypofunction, while specific chemotherapy regimens increased the risk to develop a subjective reduction in the salivary flow and difficulty in swallowing. Most of the participants were informed by the oncologist about the possibility of oral problems arising during oncological therapies. It is of paramount importance to collect observational data on oral problems from the patients' perspective in order to plan information and prevention campaigns to inform patients about their possible occurrence by providing useful tools for prevention and management. PURPOSE: Oral problems in a group of oncological patients undergoing chemotherapy (CT) for solid tumors have been examined. Incidence and severity of patients' self-reported oral problems have been evaluated along their interaction with age, gender, tumor diagnosis and stage, presence of mestastasis, CT agent type, and number of CT cycle. We also analyzed the presence of paraesthesia and anaesthesia and their predisposing factors associated with clinical and treatment-related variables. METHODS: Patients were asked to fill in a questionnaire to evaluate the onset and the intensity of oral and perioral pain, oral mucositis, salivary gland hypofunction, dysgeusia, dysphagia, dysphonia, and sensitivity neuropathy (paraesthesia or dysaesthesia) since the last CT infusion. We also investigated which types of medications have possibly been used and who recommended it, as well as patients' degree of awareness about the possibility of oral problems arising during CT. RESULTS: We recruited 194 patients and obtained 491 questionnaires. We found that a metastatic disease was a risk factor for OM (OR 2.02, p = 0.026) and salivary gland hypofunction (OR 1.66, p = 0.042) and that platinum agents, compared to mitotic inhibitors, increased the risk of developing salivary gland hypofunction (OR 2.16, p = 0.013), dysphagia (OR 3.26, p = 0.001), and anaesthesia (OR 5.16, p = 0.041). Young age was a slight protective factor for most symptoms. The 80% of enrolled patients were informed by the oncologist about possible oral problems arising during CT. CONCLUSIONS: Our study highlighted the importance of collecting observational data from the patients' perspective on oral problems arising during the routine oncology practice, across a range of solid tumors and CT regimens. The relevance of these findings focused on the key role of the multidisciplinary team in advising the patients on the possible occurrence of oral problems, also by recommending their management. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

The treatment of trigeminal neuralgia (TN) involves first- and second-generation anticonvulsants. However, side effects (SEs) impair compliance with treatment, especially in elderly patients. Lacosamide (LCM) is a third-generation anticonvulsant with a mechanism of action that is not completely clear. It has few SEs and has been considered in the treatment of neuropathic pain. LCM was prescribed as a monotherapy for a 60-year-old female with TN who had proven refractory to previous treatments in terms of both the absence of any pain relief and the appearance of severe leukopenia. The treatment dosage was 100 mg twice daily. Pain relief was obtained after three weeks of treatment without any SEs. Currently, the patient takes a maintenance dosage of 100 mg/daily, remaining in a state of complete well-being. LCM has shown evidence of a potential efficacy and a good safety profile in the treatment of this patient with TN. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Background: Burning mouth syndrome is a chronic orofacial pain with intraoral burning and other oral dysaesthetic symptoms that significantly affects the quality of life. The aim of this study is to evaluate the sexual desire in women with BMS and to investigate the possible related factors. Methods: A case–control study was performed. BMS patients were enrolled according to the International Classification of OroFacial Pain criteria. Demographic variables were collected. We evaluated pain with the Numeric Rating Scale (NRS), Visual Analogue Scale (VAS) and Total Pain Rating Index (T‐PRI), anxiety and depression using the Hospital Anxiety and Depression Scale (HADS‐A e HADS‐D), sleep disturbances with Pittsburgh Sleep Quality Index (PSQI) and Epworth Sleepiness Scale (ESS), and sexual desire using Sexual Desire Inventory (SDI). Results: A total of 50 BMS women and 50 healthy controls were enrolled. Compared with the controls, the BMS patients showed higher scores in the NRS (7,81 ± 1,71 vs. 0,14 ± 0.40; p < 0.0001), TPR‐I (10,50 ± 4,86 vs. 0,36 ± 1,06; p < 0.0001), HADS‐A (11,86 ± 2,85 vs. 3,90 ± 2,81; p < 0.0001), HADS‐D (8,04 ± 3,18 vs. 1,42 ± 1,86; p < 0.0001) and PSQI (9,04 ± 2,62 vs. 4,64 ± 3,27; p < 0.0001). The mean SDI in the study group was significantly lower compared to healthy controls (32,36 ± 14,45 vs. 69,70 ± 19,94; p < 0.0001). No correlation was found between SDI and others items explored. Conclusion: In line with previous studies, anxiety, depression and sleep disturbances are more common in BMS patients than in healthy population. This pilot study demonstrates for the first time an association between BMS and low sexual desire. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Hyperparathyroidism is an endocrine disorder that may be associated with other metabolic diseases. Non-invasive imaging techniques including [99mTc]Tc-sestamibi single-photon emission computed tomography (SPECT) and [18F]fluorocholine positron emission tomography (PET)/computed tomography (CT) play a key role on management of patients with hyperparathyroidism. We report for the first time a case of a patient with evidence of both hyperfunctioning parathyroid tissue and multiple lytic bone lesions on [18F]fluorocholine PET/CT imaging. The present case report highlights the potential role of whole-body [18F]fluorocholine PET/CT for the identification of both parathyroid adenoma and multiple bone lesions in a single diagnostic setting. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]