EFFICACY AND SAFETY OF TETRAHYDROCURCUMINOID IN THE TREATMENT OF ORAL LEUKOPLAKIA: A PILOT STUDY

Objective: The objective of this study is to evaluate the efficacy and safety of tetrahydrocurcuminoid (THC) in the treatment of oral leukoplakia. Methods: Patients with oral mucosal lesions with clinical features of leukoplakia were selected, and an incisional biopsy of the lesion was performed to confirm the diagnosis. Demographic data, habit history, and complete medical history were documented. Subjects were given 2% THC gel (Sami Labs, Bengaluru) with advice to apply the gel to the affected areas, 5 times daily for 12 weeks. The lesion was examined, and its characteristics were documented in a standard manner at baseline, 3, 6, 9, and 12 weeks. Results: Of the eight patients, 6 were males with age range from 40 to 70 years (mean age of 56 years). All the patients reported a reduction of burning sensation within 3 weeks of starting treatment and were completely asymptomatic by the end of the study. There was a decrease in the size of the lesion during the follow-up period. Reduction in thickness of the lesion was found in six of eight patients. Histological improvement a stage better was seen in three patients after completion of treatment. However, there was no histological improvement in four patients, and one patient progressed to mild dysplasia from hyperkeratosis without dysplasia. Conclusion: THD when topically applied in gel form is remarkably effective in alleviating clinical symptoms. The remarkable histological improvement was seen in 3 of 8 patients

Age Estimation by Modified Demirjian’s Method in a Hospital-Based Population: A Radiographic Study

Objective: To test the modified Demirjian's method of dental age estimation on the South Indian population and correlate it with the patient's chronological age. Material and Methods: This retrospective radiographic study was performed on digital panoramic radiographs taken during a one-year duration. Radiographs of patients in the age range from 8 to 18 years were included in the study. The radiographs were examined and according to the stage of the crown and root status of the left side mandibular teeth. The stage of calcification was observed for eight teeth in the mandibular arch and was recorded in a specially designed proforma. Each rated tooth with stage was converted into a score using a conversion table specified for girls and boys. Results: 224 digital panoramic radiographs were retrieved from the radiologic database. Out of total study sample, 49.5% (n=111) were boys and 50.5% (n=113). The mean chronological and estimated dental age using dental maturity scores resulted in an overestimation of 3 years and eight months. Also, it was noted that there was a strong positive association between chronological (real) and dental age. Conclusion: It was observed that there was a strong correlation between chronological and dental age. A new formula for determining the chronological age from the estimated dental age was derived. Further studies on a larger population may prove the reliability of this age estimation method

HEPARIN INDUCED SUBLINGUAL HEMATOMA: A RARE ORAL COMPLICATION

lingual and sublingual hematoma is a rare complication following heparin therapy which may result in serious life-threatening airway obstruction. A 75-year-old female with ischemic heart disease was heparinized for percutaneous transluminal coronary angioplasty of the left anterior descending artery leading to sublingual hematoma with difficulty in swallowing and breathing. This paper presents a case report and management of sublingual hematoma following heparin therapy

HEREDITORY GINGIVAL FIBROMATOSIS IN A 7-YEAR-OLD GIRL: A CASE REPORT

ABSTRACTThis paper presents a case of hereditary gingival fibromatosis, a rarely reported disorder and addresses the complex nature of oral diagnosis,treatment and long-term case management in the hereditary form of recurrent gingival fibromatosis. Case management is discussed in relation toa 7-year-old girl who presented with recurrent, progressive gingival enlargement requiring consecutive periodontal treatment. The initial course oftreatment included 4-quadrant gingivectomy with excisional bevel incisions, followed by microscopic examination of the gingivectomy specimenswhich supported the clinical diagnosis. 1 year later, recurrence of the condition was observed in all quadrants. It is recommended that patients withthis condition be monitored closely after gingivectomy so that the treatment requirements of localized areas can be addressed as needed.Keywords: Heredity, Genome, Phenotype, Chromosome, Autosomal inheritance

Chemoprevention of oral cancer

Oral cancer is one among the ten most common cancers in the world and shows a marked geographic variation in occurrence. It causes considerable morbidity and is associated with a 5-year survival rate of less than 50%. Current treatment primarily consists of surgery and radiotherapy and improvement in long-term cure rates with these modalities has reached a plateau. As, curative therapy available for oral cancer often results in debilitating changes in appearance, speech, swallowing and breathing, preventive strategies are desirable. Cancer chemoprevention is the use of natural, synthetic or biologic chemical agents to reverse, suppress, or prevent carcinogenic progression. Chemoprevention has been an extensively-studied strategy and continues to hold promise in the management of oral cancer. Many agents have been evaluated as possible chemopreventive agents including vitamin A and retinoids, betacarotene, vitamin E and dietary agents. Recently, molecularly targeted approach has generated interest among researchers worldwide which includes cyclooxygenase-2 (COX-2) inhibitors, EGFR inhibitors and adenovirus vectors. This article reviews the various aspects of chemoprevention and describes important chemopreventive agents and design of chemopreventive trials

Evaluation of the effect of age, gender, and skeletal class on the dimensions of sella turcica using lateral cephalogram

Context: Sella turcica or pituitary fossa is a saddle-shaped concavity housing the pituitary gland and seen clearly on lateral cephalogram. This makes it a good source of additional diagnostic information related to pathology of the pituitary gland or to various syndromes that affect the craniofacial region. Aims: The aim of this retrospective study was to determine the average dimensions and morphological variations of the sella turcica in different age groups and to evaluate any difference in size between males and females in the study population. Settings and Design: All the lateral cephalograms were taken by trained radiographic technicians using Planmeca Promax Ceph X-ray Machine, Finland, Inc., in a standardized manner using the same cephalostat. Materials and Methods: Four hundred and eighty lateral cephalograms were obtained under standardized conditions. With age range between 7 and 43 years, all the radiographs were distributed according to skeletal class and gender. Size and morphology of sella turcica were recorded and compared with age, gender, and skeletal class. Statistical Analysis Used: A Student's t-test, one-way ANOVA test, and Pearson's correlation coefficient were used. Results: The mean age of the study population was found to be 16.8 years comprising 48.6% males and 51.3% females. There was a gradual increase in linear dimensions of sella turcica with the advancement of age. The normal sella was observed in 20.6%, whereas 79.35% showed variation in morphology. Oblique anterior wall was a most common abnormal variant, whereas pyramidal shaped dorsum was rarest. Conclusions: There was no statistically significant difference in linear dimensions or morphological variations with age, gender, or type of malocclusion

Hybrid ameloblastoma: An amalgam of rare and conventional ameloblastoma

Ameloblastoma is a common benign odontogenic tumor with multiple histologic types. This case report describes an unusual type of ameloblastoma called “Hybrid Ameloblastoma” with features of both follicular and desmoplastic ameloblastoma in a 50-year-old female. This is a very rare form of ameloblastoma as <30 cases have been reported so far in literature. Though this rare form of ameloblastoma is only a histologic variant, it poses a great challenge to diagnosticians and thus to surgeons as there will be mismatch of biopsy reports at different sites in the same tumor thereby changing the treatment plan. This case report is one such example of diverse presentation of this ameloblastoma with conflicting histopathological diagnosis at initial biopsy and on surgical excision