Search

Odontogenic tumors show considerable morphologic heterogeneity and at times the diagnosis can be challenging. Ameloblastoma, the most common odontogenic tumor, can have morphological similarity to some salivary gland tumors and therefore we sought to identify biomarkers that might aid in the diagnosis by performing transcriptome wide gene expression profiling of 80 odontogenic and salivary gland neoplasms. These data identified the FOXP1+/SOX10− expression profile as characteristic of many odontogenic tumors including ameloblastoma but largely absent in salivary gland tumors. We then assessed 173 salivary gland tumors and 108 odontogenic tumors by immunohistochemistry for FOXP1 and SOX10 expression and found that 34/35 (97%) cases of ameloblastomas were diffusely positive for FOXP1 but completely negative for SOX10. None of the basaloid salivary neoplasms (basal cell adenoma, adenoid cystic carcinoma, polymorphous adenocarcinoma, and myoepitheloma) demonstrated FOXP1+/SOX10− expression pattern. Taken together, the results of this study suggest that the FOXP1+/SOX10− immunophenotype is common in odontogenic tumors including ameloblastoma and might be useful distinguishing these from similar appearing basaloid salivary gland tumors.

Lipoid proteinosis (LP) is a rare autosomal recessive disorder characterized by the deposition of amorphous hyaline material in the dermis and submucosal connective tissue. Here, we present a case of LP with significant oral, dermatologic, and neurologic manifestations occurring in a 10 year-old female of Asian descent. In addition to the more typical oral findings of restricted tongue movement and labial and buccal mucosal involvement, this case highlights an unusual pattern of gingival enlargement infrequently reported in the literature. As LP almost always involves the oral cavity, often before the onset of cutaneous lesions, it is important for dental providers to be familiar with the oral manifestations of this disease. Early detection and diagnosis of LP by the dental practitioner can help expedite proper multidisciplinary care and lead to significant reductions in patient morbidity and mortality.

Subacute necrotizing sialadenitis (SANS) is an unusual inflammatory condition known to primarily affect the minor salivary glands of the palatal region. Patients usually present with a localized, often erythematous palatal swelling accompanied by an abrupt onset of pain. The disease usually resolves between 2 days and a week with few extrapalatal reports lasting longer than 1 week. We report a series of three cases of SANS involving the palate.

We report a rare case of peripheral T-cell lymphoma arising in a 52-year-old man with biopsy-proven aggressive polymyositis, who had cardiac involvement, progressive bulbar symptoms, and died 11 months post diagnosis due to multiorgan failure. Using a multimodality approach including immunohistochemistry, genome-wide single nucleotide polymorphism (SNP)-array analysis, and high-throughput sequencing of the complementary determining region 3 (CDR3) of T-cell receptor beta (TCRβ) genes, our study demonstrates a molecular link between polymyositis and T-cell lymphoma, and provides evidence of the rapid and possibly late occurrence of genomic instability during neoplastic transformation of an oligoclonal T-cell population. Immunohistochemical analysis revealed loss of CD5, CD7, and CD8 antigen expression in autopsy tissue samples, as well as the occurrence of aberrant CD56 expression, not seen in pre-mortem biopsies, supporting the emergence of a neoplastic T-cell population. Multiplex polymerase chain reaction and next-generation sequencing of the TCRβ CDR3 region displayed two unique T-cell clones in both the diagnostic biopsy confirming polymyositis and the autopsy muscle tissue exhibiting T-cell lymphoma, linking the two pathological processes. SNP-array analysis revealed complex genomic abnormalities at autopsy but not in the pre-mortem muscle biopsies displaying polymyositis, confirming malignant transformation of the oligoclonal T-cell infiltrate. Our findings raise the possibility that clinically aggressive polymyositis might represent a preneoplastic condition in some instances, similar to certain other autoimmune and inflammatory disorders.

Gingival fibromatosis (GF) is a condition characterized by a progressive, normal colored enlargement of the gingiva caused by an increase in the size of submucosal connective tissue. Both familial and idiopathic variants of the condition exist. The authors present a case report of a 38-year-old African American man who presented with an impressive overgrowth of the maxillary and mandibular gingivae, subsequently diagnosed as idiopathic GF. In this report, the authors will review the etiologies, treatment, and clinical and histological findings of GF, review similar cases found in the literature, and discuss the differential diagnosis for diffuse gingival enlargements.