Burning mouth syndrome: a diagnostic and therapeutic dilemma

Burning mouth syndrome (BMS) has been considered an enigmatic condition because the intensity of pain rarely corresponds to the clinical signs of the disease. Various local, systemic and psychological factors are associated with BMS, but its etiology is not fully understood. Also there is no consensus on the diagnosis and classification of BMS. A substantial volume of research has been focused on BMS during the last two decades. Progress has been made but the condition remains a fascinating, yet poorly understood area, in the field of oral medicine. Recently, there has been a resurgence of interest in this disorder with the discovery that the pain of BMS may be neuropathic in origin and originate both centrally and peripherally. The aim of this paper is to explore the condition of BMS with the specific outcome of increasing awareness of the condition

Estimation of serum lipids in patients with Oral Submucous Fibrosis in India

Objectives: Oral submucous fibrosis (OSMF) is the most prevalent precancerous condition in India. Low levels of lipids serves as a marker and prognostic indicator in the early detection of oral precancerous and cancerous states. In spite of the high prevalence and its potential to undergo malignant transformation, this condition has not widely been investigated with respect to the serum lipid levels. In the present study, an attempt was made to analyze the complete serum lipid profile, total cholesterol (TC), triglycerides (TG), high density lipoprotein (HDL) choleste - rol, low density lipoprotein (LDL) cholesterol and very low density lipoprotein (VLDL) cholesterol in OSMF and controls. Material and Methods: The study was conducted in 45 clinically and histopathologically diagnosed cases of OSMF and 45 age and sex matched controls. The complete lipid profile including TC, TG, HDL cholesterol, LDL choles - terol and VLDL cholesterol was analyzed. Results: The serum lipid levels were significantly lower in the patients with OSMF than in the controls. When the values were compared between different disease stages, the maximum reduction of lipids was evident for stage 3 OSMF. From the present results, it is evident that the level of serum lipids decreases with progression of the disea - se. Conclusions: From these findings, it appears that the decrease in the lipid levels may be considered as a useful marker in the early diagnosis of oral premalignant condition like OSMF

Osteosarcoma: A rare case report and review of literature

Osteosarcoma of the jaws is a rare, aggressive, malignant mesenchymal tumor with an estimated incidence of 5% in 100,000 of the new cases per year. Osteosarcoma of jaws is a very rare disease and may constitute approximately 1% of all head and neck cancers and only 0.14% of intraoral malignancies. Approximately 7% of all osteosarcomas arise in the jawbones. Diagnosis of the tumor is important, especially in early stages for improving prognosis. Here, we report a rare case of osteosarcoma of chondroblastic variant in a 20-year-old girl, who presented with a bony swelling in the right mandibular posterior region, with a radiographic presentation of sunburst appearance, and the histopathological examination confirmed the diagnosis

Malignant melanoma: A rare case report

Malignant melanoma in the oral cavity accounts for only 0.2–8% of all malignant melanomas and it has a much poorer prognosis than its counterpart on the skin. Due to the greater tendency toward metastasis, oral melanoma is considered quite aggressive. Early diagnosis and treatment are essential for a better prognosis regarding melanomas and a reduced risk of mortality from them. To date, very few cases have been reported, according to the data we have collected. Literature search shows that oral malignant melanoma was often implicated on the maxillary gingiva compared to the mandibular gingiva. In contrast, we describe a case of malignant melanoma on the mandibular gingiva in this report. This is a rare presentation for the condition which is detailed in this case report of malignant melanoma in a 57-year-old male who presented with painless, pigmented swelling on the mandibular gingiva

Non-syndromic multiple keratocyst odontogenic tumor: A rare case report

Keratocystic odontogenic tumors (KCOTs) are one of the most frequent features of nevoid basal cell carcinoma syndrome (NBCCS). The condition is linked with mutation in the PTCH gene. Partial expression of the gene may result in occurrence of multiple recurring odontogenic keratocysts (OKCs). Although KCOTs are common in clinical practice, simultaneous occurrence of multiple cysts in both the maxilla and mandible of a patient is rare. These patients have early propensity to develop multiple neoplasms like basal cell carcinoma and medulloblastoma. Hence, early diagnosis and treatment is of utmost importance in reducing the severity of the long-term sequelae of NBCCS. We report a rare case of multiple KCOTs in a non-syndromic male patient, with emphasis on its diagnosis, radiographic features, and treatment

Kocher Debre Semelaigne Syndrome: A Rare Case Report with Orofacial Manifestations

Kocher Debre Semelaigne Syndrome is a rare syndrome with clinical manifestation of hypothyroidism associated with pseudomuscular hypertrophy. Very few cases have been reported on kocher-debre semelaigne syndrome in the literature with the incidence reported to be less than 10%. As per our knowledge; until now, only one case of oro-facial manifestations has been reported. Here we report one such case of Kocher debre semelaigne syndrome in an 11 year old boy, showing features of macroglossia, multiple impacted teeth, puffed lips and anterior open bite

Position and symmetry of mental foramen: A radiographic study in bareilly population

Introduction: The mental foramen is located in the apical region of the mandibular premolars. Variations in its position can be a cause of complications during local anesthesia or surgical procedures as well as in the diagnosis of lesions periapically. Aims and Objectives: The aim of this study was to determine the position and symmetry of mental foramen on a digital orthopantomogram (OPG), and the objective was to determine the frequency of location of mental foramen in relation to apices of teeth and interdental spaces on the panoramic radiographs. Materials and Methods: The study was done in the Department of Oral Medicine and Radiology, and 750 participants were selected in this study whose radiographic evaluation of mental foramen was done using OPG. The position of the image of the mental foramen was recorded according to criteria given by Wei Cheong Ngeow and Yusof Yuzawati. Statistical Analysis: The collected data were subsequently processed and analyzed using SPSS statistical package version 17. Results: We found that mental foramen is located below the second premolar in 74.4% of the patients followed by between two premolars in 19.3% of the population. In both males and females, most common position was in line with the second premolar followed by between two premolars. The mental foramen was symmetrical in 613 patients (81.7%) and asymmetrical in 137 patients (18.3%). Conclusion: In the present study, it was found that the most common position of the mental foramen was below second premolar followed by between two premolars. It was symmetrical in 81.7% of the population. In males and females, the most common position was below second premolar followed by between two premolars