Amiodarone-induced peri-oral photosensitivity

We describe a 70-year-old Caucasian man with recurrent history of blistering of peri-oral skin during summer months. Following the diagnosis of a phototoxic reaction to Amiodarone, this was discontinued and an alternative drug to control his cardiac arrhythmia was prescribed. His peri-oral lesions rapidly resolved, and there has been no further recurrence. A brief review on photosensitivity and the underlying mechanisms are discussed.     

Intra-oral temperatures during function

There has been limited published research assessing the range of oral temperature that the dental hard and soft tissues are exposed to. The temperatures that tooth structure and dental restorations encounter affect the performance of dental materials within the oral environment. This study therefore assessed the range of temperatures that a selected group could tolerate when drinking and also assessed the range of temperatures encountered in various intra-oral sites. These temperature fluctuations are for very brief periods of time but have a wide and varied range. Miniature dataloggers allowed for accurate measurements and recording of temperature from selected sites. The range of temperature recorded amongst the individuals tested shows the protection afforded to the dental hard tissues by the soft tissues of the oral cavity. The maximum and minimum mouth temperatures recorded show that hot fluids can raise the intra-oral temperature of the front teeth to around 70 degrees C and the consumption of iced drinks lowers the same teeth to around 0 degrees C. The range of temperature of hot fluids that can be tolerated by a selected group vary, but this does not seem to be the case for cold fluids. The thermistor beads mounted on the buccal surface of the lower front teeth and the palatal of the upper front teeth are exposed to the greatest temperature fluctuations during drinking fluids from a cup. The importance of these temperatures recorded in terms of dental materials testing and the role of material conductivity warrants further investigation.     

Intra-oral benign solid oncocytoma

Oncocytomas are extremely uncommon in the intra-oral minor salivary glands, they are rarely reported in the literature and the histopathology and clinical details are inadequately documented. This has led to uncertainty with regard to the behaviour and prognosis of this type of lesion. A case of benign solid oncocytoma arising from intra-oral minor salivary glands is reported here with a brief review of the pertinent literature.     

Intra-oral small lymphocytic lymphoma

Small lymphocytic lymphoma (SLL) belongs to a family of low-grade malignant lymphomas. Its involvement in the oral cavity has not been reported previously. We describe the case of a 43 year-old male patient suffering intra-oral SLL. Microscopic examination of the incisional biopsy specimen revealed a diffuse and monotonous pattern of small lymphocytes with proliferation centers composed of prolymphocytes or para-immunoblasts. Immunohistochemical (IHC) staining demonstrated that these neoplastic lymphoid cells proved to be positive for LCA, CD5, CD20, CD79a, CD23, CD43, Bcl-2, Bcl-6, and negative for CD10, Bcl-1 (cyclin D1), CD3, CD30, as well as negative for CD68, and smooth-muscle actin, kappa and lambda. Based upon the histological features and the IHC assay pattern, a case of intra-oral SLL and its differential diagnosis using immunohistochemistry is reported here.     

Intra-oral carcinoma simulating benign oral disease.

Intra-oral carcinoma can present in a variety of ways. Whilst carcinoma classically presents as an irregular, indurated, painless mass or ulcer, it is also recognised as being a great 'mimic' of benign lesions. A series of four cases of intra-oral squamous cell carcinoma is presented in which the initial presentation suggested a lesion of benign or dental origin. Factors which raise the index of suspicion are discussed.     

Intra-oral temperature variation over 24 hours.

This study aimed to investigate temperature variation at archwire sites adjacent to the maxillary right central incisor and first premolar, its correlation with ambient temperature, and the influence of inter-racial variation. Twenty young adult male subjects were randomly selected (13 Asian, seven Caucasian). Thermocouples were attached to the labial archwire component of custom-made orthodontic retainers at the two intra-oral sites. A third thermocouple measured ambient temperature. A data-logger recorded temperatures at 5-second intervals over a 24-hour period. Temperatures ranged from 5.6 to 58.5 degrees C at the incisor and from 7.9 to 54 degrees C at the premolar, with medians of 34.9 degrees C and 35.6 degrees C, respectively. Ambient temperature correlated poorly with the intra-oral temperatures. The Asian and Caucasian groups had significantly different temperature distributions. On average during the 24-hour period, temperatures at the incisor site were in the range of 33-37 degrees C for 79 per cent of the time, below it for 20 per cent, and above it for only 1 per cent of the time. Corresponding figures for the premolar site were 92, 6, and 2 per cent. At both archwire sites the most frequent temperatures were in the range of 35-36 degrees C. The data presented demonstrate that the temperature at sites on an archwire in situ varies considerably over a 24-hour period and that racial differences may exist. This information should be considered during the manufacture and use of temperature-sensitive orthodontic materials, in particular nickel-titanium archwires and springs.