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Benign fibro-osseous lesions of the maxillofacial skeleton constitute a heterogeneous group of disorders that includes developmental, reactive (dysplastic) and neoplastic lesions. Although their classification has been reviewed multiple times in the past, the most common benign fibro-osseous lesions are fibrous dysplasia, osseous dysplasia and ossifying fibroma. For the dental clinician, the challenges involve diagnosis and treatment (or lack thereof). A careful correlation of all clinical, radiologic and microscopic features is essential to establish a proper diagnosis and a clear treatment plan. This article aimed to review the clinical, radiologic and histopathologic characteristics of benign fibro-osseous lesions of the jaws, with emphasis on their differential diagnoses. With a deeper understanding of benign fibro-osseous lesions, clinicians will be better prepared to manage these lesions in their practice. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Excluding human papillomavirus (HPV)-driven conditions, oral papillary lesions consist of a variety of reactive and neoplastic conditions and, on occasion, can herald internal malignancy or be part of a syndrome. The objectives of this paper are to review the clinical and histopathological features of the most commonly encountered non-HPV papillary conditions of the oral mucosa. These include normal anatomic structures (retrocuspid papillae, lingual tonsils), reactive lesions (hairy tongue, inflammatory papillary hyperplasia), neoplastic lesions (giant cell fibroma), lesions of unknown pathogenesis (verruciform xanthoma, spongiotic gingival hyperplasia) and others associated with syndromes (for instance Cowden syndrome) or representing paraneoplastic conditions (malignant acanthosis nigricans). Common questions regarding differential diagnosis, management, and diagnostic pitfalls are addressed, stressing the importance of clinico-pathologic correlation and collaboration.

Schwannomas are benign nerve sheath neoplasms composed almost entirely of Schwann cells. These tumors most often arise in the soft tissues of the head and neck. However, they seldom occur within bone. This article presents a rare case of a recurrent intraosseous schwannoma of the anterior mandible and another case of a posterior intraosseous mandibular schwannoma accessed through a sagittal split ramus osteotomy. Furthermore, an updated review of the literature on intraosseous schwannomas affecting the mandible and maxilla is provided., (Copyright © 2018 American Association of Oral and Maxillofacial Surgeons. Published by Elsevier Inc. All rights reserved.)

Pyoderma gangrenosum (PG) is a distinctive ulcerative skin disorder of unknown etiology, associated with an underlying systemic disease in up to 70% of cases. The condition is characterized by the appearance of one or more necrotic ulcers with a ragged undermined violaceous border and surrounding erythema. Lesions are often initiated by minor trauma. The condition can affect any anatomical site, however the head and neck are rarely involved. Although the oral cavity is subject to recurrent minor trauma through everyday activities such as mastication and oral hygiene, as well as during dental treatment, oral lesions appear to be extremely rare. In an effort to provide a detailed explanation of the oral manifestations of PG, a systematic search was conducted using medical databases. A total of 20 cases of PG with oral involvement were reported in the English and French literature. The objectives of this article are to present the pertinent diagnostic criteria and to discuss the differential diagnosis and therapeutic modalities.

Incidental radiopacities of the jaws are commonly identified on routine intraoral and extraoral radiographs. Dentists should be able to develop a differential diagnosis of these lesions. This article presents 2 cases in which mandibular radiopacities associated with external root resorption were identified incidentally and discusses the differential diagnosis of these lesions. Both patients were referred by their general practitioners to dental specialists for further evaluation of homogenous osteosclerotic foci surrounding and resorbing the roots of the permanent mandibular right first molar. The lesions were asymptomatic, caused no cortical expansion, and were static over time. The clinical and radiographic features were consistent with a diagnosis of idiopathic osteosclerosis (IO). External root resorption is present in 10%-12% of cases of IO and often involves the permanent mandibular first molars.

We report a case of malignant myopericytoma arising in the left atrium with brain, skeletal, and liver metastases, which, to our knowledge, is the first report of this rare entity in this anatomic location. A 52-year-old man presented with progressive blackening of his left field of vision. Magnetic resonance imaging and a computed tomography scan of the brain and thorax showed a heterogeneous mass in the right occipital lobe and a large left atrial floor mass. Excision of the atrial mass showed a circumscribed but unencapsulated malignant spindled neoplasm with a perivascular concentric cellular arrangement punctuated by sheets of tumor necrosis. The cells were round to spindled with eosinophilic cytoplasm and indistinct borders. Focally, the tumor infiltrated cardiac muscle. By immunohistochemistry, the cells were positive for smooth muscle actin and negative for desmin, H-Caldesmon, S-100, HMB-45, and Melan-A. The features were prototypic for malignant myopericytoma. Eight months after initial presentation, the patient is alive with metastatic disease.

In immunocompromised patients, oral ulcerations are common and have a wide spectrum of causes, including herpesvirus infection. We report on a case in which an oral ulcer was simultaneously infected by herpes simplex (HSV), cytomegalovirus (CMV), and Epstein-Barr virus (EBV) in a kidney-pancreas transplant recipient. A 46-year-old woman presented with a clinically nonspecific dorsal tongue ulcer of 3 months duration. Histopathologic evaluation indicated keratinocytes exhibiting herpetic viral cytopathic effect. Nuclear and cytologic alterations suggestive of CMV infection were found in endothelial cells subjacent to the ulcer. Immunohistochemistry testing for HSV and CMV was positive in these cells. Large atypical mononuclear cells were also evident in the ulcer bed's inflammatory infiltrate, which had intense nuclear positivity for Epstein-Barr encoding region in situ hybridization. We believe this is the first well-documented report of the definitive concomitant presence of HSV, CMV, and EBV in an immunocompromised patient. Although the pathogenesis of coinfected ulcers remains unknown, a synergistic effect is possible., (Copyright © 2015 Elsevier Inc. All rights reserved.)