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This survey was undertaken to study the clinical features of trigeminal neuralgia in an Asian population. Demographic data of 44 patients treated at the Dental Faculty of the National University of Singapore and at the University of Malaya were reviewed. The results of the survey were analysed and comparisons made with those of Caucasian patients as reported in other studies where there was a general similarity in the clinical findings. Trigeminal neuralgia presented predominantly in females. Right-sided involvement occurred at a greater frequency, and the peak age at onset was between the sixth and seventh decades of life. The only significant variant in the present sample was the greater involvement of the mandibular branch of the trigeminal nerve rather than the maxillary division. In addition, there was a much greater representation from Chinese patients over Malays as compared with their ratios in the general population.

A patient with chronic renal failure was investigated after complaining of oral discomfort which was found to be due to macroglossia and generalized involvement of the oral soft tissues by amyloidosis. A search for multiple myeloma proved to be positive. She also had a previous history of Carpal-tunnel syndrome. Despite an initial good response to treatment with phenylalanine nitrogen mustard (melphalan hydrochloride), she finally succumbed to end-stage renal failure.

Single odontogenic cysts are very well documented in the literature. Of those less common reports concerning multiple jaw cysts, many have been associated with systemic conditions or syndromes such as Gorlin-Goltz or basal cell naevus syndrome, Hunter's syndrome and mucopolysaccharidosis, for example, Maroteaux-Lamy syndrome. A case of multiple odontogenic keratocysts unassociated with any syndrome is reported so as to add to the growing number of such cases in the literature. The possibility of this case being a partial expression of the Gorlin-Goltz syndrome is discussed.