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Secretory carcinoma is a malignant salivary gland tumor, which typically presents as an indolent painless mass within the parotid gland. Involvement of the minor gland is reported but less common. Secretory carcinoma was often misclassified as other salivary gland mimics, particularly acinic cell carcinoma, prior to 2010. It was first recognized as a molecularly distinct salivary gland tumor harboring the same fusion gene as well as histologic and cytogenetic features seen in juvenile breast cancer. Secretory carcinoma is generally managed in the same way as other low-grade salivary gland neoplasms and has a favorable prognosis; however, high-grade transformation requiring aggressive therapeutic interventions have been documented. Recent studies of biologic agents targeting products of this fusion gene offer the promise of a novel therapeutic option for treatment of this malignancy. Due to the limited number of reported cases, the spectrum of clinical behavior, best practices for management, and long-term treatment outcomes for secretory carcinoma remain unclear. A long-standing secretory carcinoma involving minor salivary glands of the mucobuccal fold, which was detected years after it was first noted by the patient, is reported. This case brings to light the importance of a thorough clinical exam during dental visits and reviews diagnostic differentiation of this malignancy from other mimics and discusses decision making for its management. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Suicide is a major public health challenge worldwide, affecting both classes, sex and ages. The WHO estimates that 700,000 people die from this condition worldwide. With the onset of the pandemic, they believe that these numbers have increased, affecting mainly the most vulnerable. The ingestion of caustic substances is one of the most used means in suicides with significant damage to the oral cavity and gastrointestinal tract, in which the dental surgeon is the professional who must provide care for the treatment and oral rehabilitation in these cases. Thus, due to the scarcity of studies, we aim to report two cases of attempted self-extermination with the ingestion of caustic substances that caused great damage to the oral cavity and the care carried out in the intensive care unit, using oral care protocols associated with photobiomodulation with expressive results. We carried out the treatment in the intensive care unit with photobiomodulation, using low-power laser therapy, obtaining significant responses with an average time of four sessions of application of the protocol. We believe that because these are cases of high complexity and high mortality and morbidity rates, the presence of well-defined and applied protocols provides benefits to these patients. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Intraosseous arteriovenous malformations (AVM) are uncommon high-flow vascular malformation that can affect the maxilla or mandible. AVM may present with aspecific and misleading signs and symptoms. The diagnosis is often accidental and bleeding may represent the first symptom. Radiographically, there are few characteristic features and misdiagnosis is easy. Here we report the case of a young male affected by arteriovenous fistula on the right side of the mandible initially misdiagnosed as a cystic lesion. The patient underwent transarterial embolization of the vascular malformation and subsequently the lesion was surgically removed. 1-year follow-up showed complete healing of the mandibular bone and absence of recurrence. Intraosseous arteriovenous malformations are rare entities. However, due to their harmfulness, both clinicians and radiologists must be aware of this type of lesion and should always consider them in the differential diagnosis of osteolytic lesions. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Pediatric oral pathology encompasses a wide range of diseases and conditions affecting the oral cavity in children. In this study we conducted an analysis on a dataset from one academic center in Saudi Arabia to investigate the prevalence of various oral lesions in pediatric patients. To conduct this study we analyzed oral pathology reports of pediatric patients (age range: 0–18 years) who underwent biopsies at our institution's oral pathology laboratory between January 2012 and December 2022. The data we collected included demographic information and diagnostic findings. Statistical analysis was performed to determine the prevalence rates of and associations between different variables. The study analyzed a total of 183 pediatric cases with oral pathologies. The most common conditions observed were mucocele (12 %), periapical granuloma (7.7 %), dentigerous cyst (6.6 %), and radicular cyst (6.6 %). Some conditions showed variations in prevalence based on age and gender. For example, mucoceles were more prevalent among patients who were 6–12 years of age and female. This retrospective study provides valuable insights into the prevalence and demographic characteristics of pediatric oral pathologies. By understanding the prevalence of conditions in this population and recognizing differences in distribution compared with those cited in other studies, we highlighted the importance of considering regional and demographic influences. Further prospective studies are needed to investigate factors that may contribute to these variations. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Abstract Background Since AI algorithms can analyze patient data, medical records, and imaging results to suggest treatment plans and predict outcomes, they have the potential to support pathologists and clinicians in the diagnosis and treatment of oral and maxillofacial pathologies, just like every other area of life in which it is being used. The goal of the current study was to examine all of the trends being investigated in the area of oral and maxillofacial pathology where AI has been possibly involved in helping practitioners. Methods We started by defining the important terms in our investigation's subject matter. Following that, relevant databases like PubMed, Scopus, and Web of Science were searched using keywords and synonyms for each concept, such as "machine learning," "diagnosis," "treatment planning," "image analysis," "predictive modelling," and "patient monitoring." For more papers and sources, Google Scholar was also used. Results The majority of the 9 studies that were chosen were on how AI can be utilized to diagnose malignant tumors of the oral cavity. AI was especially helpful in creating prediction models that aided pathologists and clinicians in foreseeing the development of oral and maxillofacial pathology in specific patients. Additionally, predictive models accurately identified patients who have a high risk of developing oral cancer as well as the likelihood of the disease returning after treatment. Conclusions In the field of oral and maxillofacial pathology, AI has the potential to enhance diagnostic precision, personalize care, and ultimately improve patient outcomes. The development and application of AI in healthcare, however, necessitates careful consideration of ethical, legal, and regulatory challenges. Additionally, because AI is still a relatively new technology, caution must be taken when applying it to this industry.

Background: Since AI algorithms can analyze patient data, medical records, and imaging results to suggest treatment plans and predict outcomes, they have the potential to support pathologists and clinicians in the diagnosis and treatment of oral and maxillofacial pathologies, just like every other area of life in which it is being used. The goal of the current study was to examine all of the trends being investigated in the area of oral and maxillofacial pathology where AI has been possibly involved in helping practitioners. Methods: We started by defining the important terms in our investigation's subject matter. Following that, relevant databases like PubMed, Scopus, and Web of Science were searched using keywords and synonyms for each concept, such as "machine learning," "diagnosis," "treatment planning," "image analysis," "predictive modelling," and "patient monitoring." For more papers and sources, Google Scholar was also used. Results: The majority of the 9 studies that were chosen were on how AI can be utilized to diagnose malignant tumors of the oral cavity. AI was especially helpful in creating prediction models that aided pathologists and clinicians in foreseeing the development of oral and maxillofacial pathology in specific patients. Additionally, predictive models accurately identified patients who have a high risk of developing oral cancer as well as the likelihood of the disease returning after treatment. Conclusions: In the field of oral and maxillofacial pathology, AI has the potential to enhance diagnostic precision, personalize care, and ultimately improve patient outcomes. The development and application of AI in healthcare, however, necessitates careful consideration of ethical, legal, and regulatory challenges. Additionally, because AI is still a relatively new technology, caution must be taken when applying it to this industry. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Background: Odontogenic tumors (OT) are composed of heterogeneous lesions, which can be benign or malignant, with different behavior and histology. Within this classification, ameloblastoma and ameloblastic carcinoma (AC) represent a diagnostic challenge in daily histopathological practice due to their similar characteristics and the limitations that incisional biopsies represent. From these premises, we wanted to test the usefulness of models based on artificial intelligence (AI) in the field of oral and maxillofacial pathology for differential diagnosis. The main advantages of integrating Machine Learning (ML) with microscopic and radiographic imaging is the ability to significantly reduce intra‐and inter observer variability and improve diagnostic objectivity and reproducibility. Methods: Thirty Digitized slides were collected from different diagnostic centers of oral pathology in Brazil. After performing manual annotation in the region of interest, the images were segmented and fragmented into small patches. In the supervised learning methodology for image classification, three models (ResNet50, DenseNet, and VGG16) were focus of investigation to provide the probability of an image being classified as class0 (i.e., ameloblastoma) or class1 (i.e., Ameloblastic carcinoma). Results: The training and validation metrics did not show convergence, characterizing overfitting. However, the test results were satisfactory, with an average for ResNet50 of 0.75, 0.71, 0.84, 0.65, and 0.77 for accuracy, precision, sensitivity, specificity, and F1‐score, respectively. Conclusions: The models demonstrated a strong potential of learning, but lack of generalization ability. The models learn fast, reaching a training accuracy of 98%. The evaluation process showed instability in validation; however, acceptable performance in the testing process, which may be due to the small data set. This first investigation opens an opportunity for expanding collaboration to incorporate more complementary data; as well as, developing and evaluating new alternative models. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Purpose: This study assessed the prevalence of maxillofacial lesions in children, i.e., 0–9 years, and adolescents, i.e., 10–19 years, in a Brazilian Oral Pathology Service and compared results with available literature. Methods: Clinical and histopathological records from January 2007 to August 2020 were analysed and a literature review investigating maxillofacial lesions in paediatric populations was also performed. Results: Overall, "reactive salivary gland lesions" and "reactive connective tissue lesions" were the most prevalent group of soft tissue lesions, affecting children and adolescents equally. From these, mucocele and pyogenic granuloma were the most prevalent histological diagnoses, respectively, regardless of age. These findings were consistent with the 32 studies included. Considering intraosseous lesions, "odontogenic cysts" and "periapical inflammatory lesions" were the most prevalent groups, with no relevant differences between age groups, except for the odontogenic keratocyst, which was more prevalent in adolescents. Moreover, several odontogenic tumours, such as ameloblastic fibroma and odontogenic myxoma, were significantly more prevalent in children. Conclusion: Most maxillofacial lesions presented a similar prevalence between children and adolescents. Reactive salivary gland lesions and reactive connective tissue lesions were the prevailing diagnostic categories, regardless of age. Some odontogenic tumours and the odontogenic keratocyst showed significantly different frequencies across these age groups. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Background: At present, the status of oral and maxillofacial pathology (OMFP) in the country is not properly good. This study aimed to investigate the current status and develop practical approaches to improve occupational condition of the specialty in the future from the viewpoint of the beneficiaries. Materials and Methods: This was a descriptive cross-sectional study. The participants were oral and maxillofacial pathologists of the country (200 individuals), OMFP residents (9 individuals), and final year dental students at six dentistry school of the country at 2020 (200 individuals) through multicenter design. At the first phase, the related questionnaires were developed and assessed psychometrically. Reliability of the questionnaires, internal consistency, and repeatability were computed and confirmed. At the second phase, the survey questionnaires on the current and future condition were sent electronically to the study groups. The data were analyzed using descriptive statistical tests (mean, standard deviation, percentage) and the Pearson test using SPSS. Results: At the first phase, after primary design of the study too, 23 variables with content validity ratio below 0.56 and content validity index (CVI) below 0.79 were omitted. The questionnaire for the specialists was confirmed with Cronbach's alpha of 0.75 and intraclass correlation coefficient (ICC) as 0.83, and the questionnaire for the students and the residents were confirmed with Cronbach's alpha of 0.95 and ICC of 0.80. Results of the second phase showed that score of tendency of students to select OMFP specialty to continue education was 1.58 ± 0.57 from 5. Satisfaction score of specialists on specialized activity of this specialty is 2.7 ± 1.52 from 5. The most important reason for the students to select this specialty was "interest in being faculty member," and the "difficulty of the specialty" was the most probable reason for not selecting this specialty. The most important priority of the residents was "interest in specialty" and for the specialists was "being faculty member." The most important reason to change attitude regarding the specialty by the specialists was mentioned as "high occupational and profession responsibility as well as low income" with the score of 1.38 ± 3.99. "Fundamental revision in the educational curriculum of the specialty" with a score of 4.60 ± 0.93 from 5 was considered as the most important revisionary approach from the viewpoint of specialists. Conclusion: At present, the main problem regarding the OMPF specialty in the country is "high number of graduates and lack of the present occupational opportunities." Evaluation and validation of the relevant specialized departments, producing occupational opportunities, and fundamental revision in the educational curriculum to train well-powered specialists are necessary. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Study Design: Case report. Objective: Pleomorphic adenoma is pathologically characterized as an epithelial lesion intermixed with mesenchymal elements. It is characterized by being a slow-growing, asymptomatic, usually nodular, firm consistency lesion that can reach large dimensions, especially when it affects the parotid gland. The present study aims to report a case about an atypical presentation of pleomorphic adenoma found in frontozygomatic region. Methods: The tumor mass was removed through resection, under general anesthesia, by cutaneous approach, preserving aesthetics and noble structures as temporalis muscle, orbicularis oculi muscle and frontal branch of the facial nerve. Intra-operative macroscopic assessment showed an encapsulated tumor. After resection, the surgical specimen was sent to the pathology laboratory for histological analysis confirming the diagnosis of Pleomorphic Adenoma. Conclusions: After 1 year of follow-up the patient had an excellent evolution, without signs of disease recurrence. It demonstrates that, until now, the surgical approach constituted the resolving therapy, even for a lesion in a rare localization. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Mucoepidermoid carcinoma (MEC) is one of the most common primary salivary gland malignancies in both children and adults. MECs containing calcifications are rare, but well described in the literature. In contrast, there are only two case reports of MECs showing intra‐tumoural bone formation. MECs associated with calcifications occur more frequently in minor salivary glands, compared to bone formation, which is more commonly seen in major glands. This possibly points to a different pathogenic mechanism. Calcifications of the head and neck region are generally diagnosed on conventional imaging by combining the anatomical location with the pattern of calcification. The radiological findings of MECs containing calcifications or bone formation may mimic benign inflammatory processes such as sialoliths. The purpose of this paper is to report three additional cases of MEC containing metaplastic bone formation. These cases presented as painless swellings with radiological signs that could easily be mistaken for dystrophic calcifications. The clinical relevance of the paper is to make clinicians aware of the deceptive radiological appearance of this entity. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

The objective of this case report and review of the literature is to address spontaneously regressing radiolucent lesions affecting the mandible. In 2010, a 16-year-old girl presented with an impacted mandibular third molar associated with a radiolucent lesion. At that time, the treating clinician considered the lesion to be at high risk of causing life-threatening bleeding. Therefore, it was suggested that she not have her tooth extracted. The patient was lost to follow-up for 8 years. Recent radiographs obtained by an oral and maxillofacial surgeon revealed that the lesion had resolved spontaneously. This article also reviews and summarizes cases in the literature in which radiolucent mandibular lesions regressed without treatment or with minimal Intervention such as aspiration or incisional biopsy. The current case report and previously reported findings of spontaneous regression underscore the importance of establishing an accurate differential diagnosis and highlight the benefits of a multidisciplinary approach involving general dentists, oral and maxillofacial radiologists, pathologists, and surgical colleagues for management of mandibular radiolucencies. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

The aim of the current study was to analyse the demographic, clinical and radiological features of primary aneurysmal bone cysts (ABCs) involving the maxillofacial region. Histologically confirmed cases affecting the maxillofacial region were retrospectively reviewed over a 21-year period (2000–2021). Cases were collected from the archives of five Oral Pathology laboratories from three countries: South Africa, Guatemala and Brazil. The information was analysed, with emphasis on the clinical and radiological spectrum. Following the inclusion criteria, a total of 31 cases of primary ABCs were included in the study. A nearly equal male-to-female distribution was seen, with ABCs occurring in males at an earlier age compared to females. Localised swelling was the main clinical presentation. ABCs had a mandibular predominance, particularly in the posterior regions. All ABCs presented as blow-out expansile well-demarcated radiolucent lesions with the majority having a multilocular appearance. Cortical expansion was seen in 91% of cases with loss of cortical integrity being common (78%). Primary ABCs involving the maxillofacial region are extremely rare with the majority of current published literature consisting of isolated case reports. The current study is the first large series detailing the radiological features. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

The aim of this study was to evaluate the benign paediatric jaw lesions based on the 2017 World Health Organization (WHO) classification. Demographic data, symptoms, radiographic findings, location, size, histopathologic diagnosis, treatment modalities, and outcomes were analysed retrospectively. Recurrence incidence, time to recur, and follow-up time were also evaluated. One hundred seven lesions were diagnosed in 100 patients (44 female, 56 male). The mean follow-up time was 56.6 ± 45.7 months. The mean age was 12. 9 ± 3.9 years and the majority of lesions were found in the permanent dentition group (p = 0.045). There were 73 patients with odontogenic cysts, followed by 16 patients with odontogenic tumors, and 11 patients with non-odontogenic tumors. Eighty seven lesions (81%) were radiolucent and 93 lesions (86%) were well-circumscribed. The majority of the patients (n = 96) were treated by enucleation. Recurrence was seen in 3 patients. The most notable difference between the results of the present study and the results of the study conducted in medical institutions was the distributions of jaw lesions. Within the limitations of the study it seems that a conservative treatment of benign jaw lesions should be preferred in the paediatric population because this treatment yields acceptable results. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Pathology reports often contain elements of uncertainty, and communication between clinicians and pathologists is paramount for providing the best patient care. Surveys were given to pathology service-users and pathologists to ascertain confidence levels regarding certain phrases used in pathology reports. A focus group then met with pathologists to gain insight into why certain phrases are used and the challenges that are faced in presenting an uncertain diagnosis. Whilst most of the phrases were interpreted similarly between service-users and pathologists, some elicited more variation in confidence than others, suggesting that the message conveyed in pathology reports is not always interpreted the way it is intended to be. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Objective: Oral and maxillofacial metastasis may be the first indication of an undiscovered malignancy in a significant number of cases. Therefore, the rationale of this article is to highlight the clinical and radiological presentation of metastatic lesions involving the oral and maxillofacial region. This will serve as a reference for clinicians, who may first encounter patients with possible metastatic lesions in this region. Methods: Histologically confirmed cases of oral and maxillofacial metastasis were retrospectively reviewed over a 30-year period. Twenty-three patients were included in the study. The following clinical information was reviewed: age at diagnosis, gender, medical history, main complaint, site of metastatic tumour, radiological features, preliminary clinical diagnosis and final histological diagnosis. Results: Females were twice as commonly affected, with metastatic lesions three times more likely to occur in the mandible. Common clinical presentations included swelling, pain and paraesthesia, with non-specific dental-related symptoms occurring in a few cases. Fifteen cases presented radiologically with an osteolytic lesion with poorly demarcated margins. Four cases presented with well demarcated lesions with additional signs of destruction. Additionally, four cases showed an osteogenic radiological appearance. In the current population sample, metastasis to the oral and maxillofacial region most commonly originated from the breast. Conclusion: Lesions with poorly demarcated margins with cortical destruction, accompanied by clinical signs of swelling, pain and paraesthesia in the absence of any inflammatory process, should raise suspicion for metastasis. Considering the poor prognosis of these metastatic lesions, the responsibility lies with the clinician to identify these lesions and make appropriate referrals. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Aim: This study aimed to analyze the prevalence of diseases related to pericoronal follicles, and assess the rate of concordance between clinical and histopathological diagnoses. Methods: Histologically, we analyzed 1,298 tissue samples surrounding the crowns of teeth that were diagnosed clinically as pericoronal follicles. In addition, we determined associations among histopathological diagnosis, patients' age and sex, tissue site, presence of nests of odontogenic epithelium, presence of reduced enamel epithelium, and presence of diffuse inflammation. Results: Odontogenic pathologies were present in 35% of the samples, and rate of concordance between clinical and histopathological diagnoses was 0.54. Probability of developing odontogenic pathologies was high in the mandibular molars (odds ratio: 2.13) and in the tissues with odontogenic epithelial remnants (odds ratio: 1.2), reduced enamel epithelium (odds ratio: 1.3), and diffuse inflammation. (odds ratio: 10.5). Conclusions: The findings of this study highlight the clinical relevance of histopathological examination of the pericoronal tissue in unerupted and partially erupted teeth for early diagnosis of pathologies because this study demonstrated the odontogenic cysts and inflammatory lesions in tissues clinically diagnosed as pericoronal follicles.

Soft tissue myofibromas of the head and neck are relatively common lesions diagnosed within the first two decades of life; however, these myofibromas are rarely found to affect the jaw bones. Myofibromas that do develop within the bone are referred to as intraosseous myofibromas (IM). A thorough search and review of the literature has found only five cases of IM impacting the mandible of an adult patient. The current case report describes a myofibroma impacting the right posterior mandible in a 44-year-old male patient with no previous history of pathology or surgery within the affected area. Histologic examination of the incisional biopsy specimen revealed a proliferation of spindle cells, and the spindle cells showed positivity for SMA on immunohistochemical staining supporting the diagnosis of myofibroma. The final pathology results of the subsequent composite resection of the lesion yielded a 1.5cm myofibroma that was < 1mm from the nearest bone/soft tissue edge; the resection margin was uninvolved by tumor. The purpose of this case report is to present the sixth case of IM of the mandible of an adult patient and to review the pertinent radiographic and clinical features, and necessary methods for diagnosis and treatment of this rare entity.

Secretory carcinoma (SC), formerly known as mammary analogue secretory carcinoma (MASC), is a rare salivary gland tumor that was first described by Skalova et al., in 2010 [1]. Thirty-two cases of SC involving the lips have been reported in the literature. The current report describes a case of SC discovered in the upper lip of a 20-year-old-female. The lesion was excised, and the pathology report returned as SC with positive margins. One month later, the patient was treated with radical excision of the lesion with 1cm margins, and the pathology report described SC of the inner aspect of the right side of the upper lip that was unifocal, 0.3cm in size with a 3mm depth of invasion. The margins were uninvolved by the invasive tumor, and the distance from the closest margin was at least 5mm to the deep margin. No lymphovascular invasion or perineural invasion was identified. The tumor cells were positive for mammaglobin, S100, and GATA-3. The purpose of this report is to highlight the presentation and review the morphologic and immunohistochemical features of SC. Our aim is to add to the existing body of literature and present an extremely rare case of SC of the upper lip.

A lingual abscess is a rare but serious infection within the tongue parenchyma, posing significant risks due to potential airway obstruction. Despite advancements in oral hygiene and antibiotics, timely diagnosis and treatment are critical to prevent severe complications. In this case, we report a 29-year-old male with Pierre Robin sequence (PRS) who presented with a four-day history of severe tongue pain, swelling, decreased appetite, and fever, without any reported trauma. Examination revealed left-sided tongue swelling, poor oral hygiene, and notable Mallampati III classification. A neck CT scan confirmed an abscess in the left hemitongue involving the intrinsic and mylohyoid muscles, measuring 26.5 x 30 x 30.5 mm with a volume of approximately 8 cc. Prompt intravenous antibiotic treatment was initiated, leading to spontaneous abscess drainage and significant clinical improvement. The patient was discharged after five days of intravenous antibiotics and continued oral antibiotics. At one-week follow-up, he was asymptomatic and fully recovered. This case underscores the importance of recognizing the potentially life-threatening nature of lingual abscesses, particularly in syndromic patients like those with PRS, who may experience quicker airway obstruction due to craniofacial abnormalities, such as micrognathia and glossoptosis. Given the rarity of such conditions, awareness and readiness to address these emergencies are essential for ensuring patient safety and positive outcomes., Competing Interests: Human subjects: Consent was obtained or waived by all participants in this study. Ethics Committee of the University Hospital of the Universidad Autonoma de Nuevo León issued approval OT14-00414. Conflicts of interest: In compliance with the ICMJE uniform disclosure form, all authors declare the following: Payment/services info: All authors have declared that no financial support was received from any organization for the submitted work. Financial relationships: All authors have declared that they have no financial relationships at present or within the previous three years with any organizations that might have an interest in the submitted work. Other relationships: All authors have declared that there are no other relationships or activities that could appear to have influenced the submitted work., (Copyright © 2024, Plata-Huerta et al.)

The role of digital pathology in remote reporting has seen an increase during the COVID-19 pandemic. Recently, recommendations had been made regarding the urgent need of reorganizing head and neck cancer diagnostic services to provide a safe work environment for the staff. A total of 162 glass slides from 109 patients over a period of 5 weeks were included in this validation and were assessed by all pathologists in both analyses (digital and conventional) to allow intraobserver comparison. The intraobserver agreement between the digital method (DM) and conventional method (CM) was considered almost perfect (κ ranged from 0.85 to 0.98, with 95% CI, ranging from 0.81 to 1). The most significant and frequent disagreements within trainees encompassed epithelial dysplasia grading and differentiation among severe dysplasia (carcinoma in situ) and oral squamous cell carcinoma. The most frequent pitfall from DM was lag in screen mirroring. The lack of details of inflammatory cells and the need for a higher magnification to assess dysplasia were pointed in one case each. The COVID-19 crisis has accelerated and consolidated the use of online meeting tools, which would be a valuable resource even in the post-pandemic scenario. Adaptation in laboratory workflow, the advent of digital pathology and remote reporting can mitigate the impact of similar future disruptions to the oral and maxillofacial pathology laboratory workflow avoiding delays in diagnosis and report, to facilitate timely management of head and neck cancer patients. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

The rapid evolution of digital technology in all walks of the life is an important indicator that a different future is waiting for us. Technology has become a mainstay of daily life and is being increasingly used in education, research as well clinical activities with new innovations aiding healthcare and increase our knowledge, productivity and efficiency. There is no doubt that the healthcare sector, including dental sciences will be influenced by these rapid changes with many standard procedures likely to change. This is supported by the fact that some medical and dental specialties such as radiology have already made the digital leap. Digital pathology is an emerging area which has started to transform education and workflow in pathology. In this review, we will discuss how these novel and 'disruptive' technologies are likely to change education, training and diagnostic work flow in oral and maxillofacial pathology. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Nada A Alhindi, Amal M Sindi, Nada O Binmadi, Wael Y Elias Oral Diagnostic Science Department, Faculty of Dentistry, King Abdulaziz University, Jeddah, Saudi Arabia Background: Oral and maxillofacial lesions (OMFL) comprise a broad spectrum of benign and malignant lesions that affect the oral cavity. However, few epidemiological studies have evaluated oral cavity lesions, and very few have focused on oral soft tissue pathology. The purpose of this study was to identify the prevalence and distribution of OMFL that had been diagnosed histologically at the Oral Pathology Laboratory, Faculty of Dentistry, King Abdulaziz University. Materials and methods: A retrospective study was conducted to assess the distribution of OMFL among the oral cavity biopsies submitted to the Oral Pathology Laboratory during the period from 1996 to 2016. Information on sex, age, location of the lesion, and histopathologic diagnosis was analyzed. Results: A total of 1,218 cases were examined. Among these, reactive/adaptive lesions were the most common type (n=245; 20.1%) and cystic lesions were the second most common (n=214; 17.6%), followed by inflammatory lesions (n=152; 12.5%) and epithelial pathology (n=115; 9.4%). Conclusion: The results of the present study provide valuable information on the prevalence of OMFL in Jeddah, Saudi Arabia. Reactive conditions were the most frequently diagnosed pathologies. Most oral and maxillofacial biopsies were soft tissue lesions, benign in nature, and inflammatory in origin. Further studies are necessary to provide more information on head and neck diseases in the general population to develop better future oral health policies. Keywords: oral and maxillofacial pathology, Saudi Arabia, Jeddah, oral lesions

Aim: This study aimed to analyze the prevalence of diseases related to pericoronal follicles, and assess the rate of concordance between clinical and histopathological diagnoses.Methods: Histologically, we analyzed 1,298 tissue samples surrounding the crowns of teeth that were diagnosed clinically as pericoronal follicles. In addition, we determined associations among histopathological diagnosis, patients' age and sex, tissue site, presence of nests of odontogenic epithelium, presence of reduced enamel epithelium, and presence of diffuse inflammation.Results: Odontogenic pathologies were present in 35% of the samples, and rate of concordance between clinical and histopathological diagnoses was 0.54. Probability of developing odontogenic pathologies was high in the mandibular molars (odds ratio: 2.13) and in the tissues with odontogenic epithelial remnants (odds ratio: 1.2), reduced enamel epithelium (odds ratio: 1.3), and diffuse inflammation. (odds ratio: 10.5).Conclusions: The findings of this study highlight the clinical relevance of histopathological examination of the pericoronal tissue in unerupted and partially erupted teeth for early diagnosis of pathologies because this study demonstrated the odontogenic cysts and inflammatory lesions in tissues clinically diagnosed as pericoronal follicles. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Introduction: Oral and maxillofacial pathology is a branch of dentistry that deals with the clinical, radiographic, and microscopic diagnosis of the diseases affecting the oral and maxillofacial region. Setting up an oral pathology laboratory is a difficult task. Right from gathering Funds, Sample collection to staffing and accreditation, all the necessary steps must be undertaken to set up an oral pathology laboratory. Hence, in comparison to general pathology laboratories, the number of oral pathology laboratories in India is minimal. In this study, we aim to assess the knowledge, attitude, and perception among oral pathologists about setting up an oral pathology laboratory in India. Materials and Methods: A validated questionnaire containing ten questions was created using Google Forms. The link to this questionnaire survey was circulated to oral and maxillofacial pathologists all over the country by E-mail. 106 responses were received, which were tabulated. The frequencies and percentages were calculated. Based on these calculations, the results were represented using two-dimensional bar chart and pie chart. Results: Nearly 99% of the participants agreed that there are very few oral pathology laboratories in India. 50.94% of participants attributed it to the lack of dentist’s knowledge about the importance of histopathological evaluation of tissues. Conclusion: The decreased number of oral pathology laboratories is attributed to lack of dentist’s awareness. Educating the dentist along with proper promotional measures and recruitment of adequate and qualified staff can help in setting up the oral pathology laboratory in India. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

It has been more than a century since William Conrad Roentgen first discovered the X-ray. Radiology has transformed itself from scientific curiosity to a medical and dental necessity. The evolution of radiographs from periapical to extraoral imaging, and cephalometric, and panoramic radiography has heralded major progress in dental radiology, providing clinicians with a single comprehensive image of the jaws and maxillofacial structures. Even though radiograph is useful in certain ways, it has its own pros and cons. Exposure to X-ray beam radiation for prolonged period can result in the development of cancer and other adverse effects. Cone-beam computed tomography (CBCT) is an advanced medical imaging technique that generates three-dimensional (3-D) image at a lower cost and absorbed dose compared to that of conventional CT. This technique is based on a cone-shaped X-ray beam centered on a two-dimensional (2-D) detector that performs one rotation around the object, producing a series of 2-D images. These images are reconstructed in 3-D using a modification of the original conebeam algorithm developed by Kamp et al., in 1984. Interest in CBCT from all fields of dentistry has been unprecedented, as the results of a 3D visualization provided improved interpretation, diagnosis, and treatment planning. It also showed a tremendous impact in dental implant treatment planning, giving the arch and ridge configuration, and location of the nerve and maxillary sinus before the surgery, thereby decreasing surgical uncertainty. Many innovative software programs are useful in making customized surgical guides, virtual models, and laser-generated resins for treatment planning. This article describes CBCT generations, advantages, disadvantages, and the various applications of CBCT in dentistry. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

This is a brief look at the establishment and development of oral and maxillofacial pathology in Iran. The program of the oral and maxillofacial pathology at first was integrated into the curriculum of the Dental School of Tehran University in 1960. The Iranian Society of Oral and Maxillofacial Pathologists was officially founded in 1999. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]