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The cancer education curriculum at Louisiana State University School of Dentistry provides students didactic and experiential learning throughout their dental training. Freshman are presented concepts of early detection of cancer in an oral diagnosis course. Later courses in oral diagnosis, medicine, and pathology include diagnostic and treatment decision making and rehabilitative information. Junior students attend a head-and-neck-tumor board composed of dentists and physicians that decides cancer treatment and rehabilitation. Juniors also participate in a biopsy service that includes observing or performing the biopsy, examining the tissue microscopically, and reporting their findings. Additionally, a required, medical and dental, multidisciplinary course in oral oncology provides instruction in diagnosis, treatment, and rehabilitation of cancer patients. Seniors participate in an oral cancer screening service as part of their community dentistry rotation. The postgraduate dental programs and the dental hygiene programs also participate in this curriculum.

Testing for human immunodeficiency virus antibody (anti-HIV-1) in patients positive for hepatitis B surface antigen has never been performed in a dental school patient population. In this population there was a 2.8% positive reactivity for HIV-1 antibodies in subjects who were also positive for hepatitis B surface antigen. An enzyme-linked immunoassay with a repeat test and confirmation with a Western blot technique were used.

Hepatitis C virus (HCV) has joined the list of infectious liver diseases of which the practicing dentist must be aware.This recently described RNA virus causes between 20% to 40% of reported cases of viral hepatitis in the United States. Patients with HCV show symptoms only one quarter of the time, but chronicity is maintained longer than with the other liver infections. The major mode of transmission is percutaneous, so dentists are potentially at risk to contract the virus. To assess the presence of exposure to HCV, a total of 500 dental school patients were screened for serum antibody to this virus (second-generation anti-HCV). In addition, participants were required to fill out a special screening questionnaire designed to indicate high-risk groups. Their serum was also analyzed for serum chemistries known to be associated with acute and chronic liver disease. Analysis of the 15 response questionnaires revealed statistical significance relating to questions inquiring about previous exposure to blood (transfusions, surgical procedures, etc) but little significance relating to lifestyle. In either case responses were not of practical predictive value. More than 5% of our sample patients were found to be positive reactors to anti-HCV, indicating previous HCV exposure. A significant number of those positive for anti-HCV also showed elevation of serum chemistries associated with hepatitis.

Summary This case report demonstrates the difficulty involved in establishing a diagnosis of malignant fibrous histiocytoma. The histologic characteristics of this tumor as well as the important contributions of electron microscopy and special staining techniques in making the diagnosis, have been discussed. Review of 16 cases of MFH revealed the typical presentation of maxillary sinus malignancy. Treatment modalities vary, depending on the size of the tumor and the preference of the surgeon.