Oral submucous fibrosis: An update on pathophysiology of malignant transformation

Oral submucous fibrosis (OSMF) is a potentially malignant condition associated with areca nut chewing. Formerly confined to the Indian subcontinent, it is now often seen in Asian populations of the United Kingdom, USA and other developed countries, and is therefore a serious problem for global health. What makes it more sinister is the malignant transformation rate, which has been reported to be around 7.6% over a 17‐year period. In this concise article, we review the current trends in the pathophysiology of malignant transformation of OSMF.     

Odontogenic myxoma: A review with report of an uncommon case with recurrence in the mandible of a teenage male

We describe a 13-year-old boy with recurrence of an odontogenic myxoma of the mandible. We review the existing published literature on the lesion, emphasizing the similarities and differences among lesions in the differential diagnosis. Odontogenic myxoma is an uncommon benign tumor that mainly affects the mandible, with a peak incidence in the second to fourth decades of life and predilection for the female sex. Clinical, radiological, and histopathological features should be considered when making a diagnosis. Several of these characteristics overlap with those of other benign and some malignant tumors. Odontogenic myxoma is known for recurrence. The treatment plan should consider the age and sex of the patient and the site and size of the lesion. Reconstructive surgery may be required, but should be delayed until after an adequate follow-up to rule out recurrence.     

Alterations in desmosomal adhesion at protein and ultrastructure levels during the sequential progressive grades of human oral tumorigenesis

With the aim of developing early diagnostic/prognostic markers for oral cancer, desmosomal adhesion in sequentially progressive grades of tissues from oral normal/disorders (normal, hyperplastic, dysplastic, non‐metastatic/metastatic tumours, and metastatic nodes) was investigated at protein and ultrastructural levels using immunohistochemistry and transmission electron microscopy, respectively. The expression of desmosomal proteins was higher in hyperplastic tissues than in normal tissues but was significantly decreased in subsequent progressive stages of the disease. Altered expression of desmosomal proteins was significantly correlated with local recurrence and disease‐free survival. Ultrastructural analysis in the corresponding tissues revealed cytoplasmic clustering of desmosomes in hyperplasia; in more advanced disease stages, a significantly lower number of desmosomes and widened intercellular spaces were observed. Altered protein expression resulting in structural changes was confirmed by knocking down desmoplakin expression in non‐transformed cells, which failed to form normal desmosome structures and induced a cell‐transformation phenotype. Our data suggest that alterations in desmosomal assembly initiate at an early hyperplastic grade and, with more advanced disease stages, the severity of the alterations gradually becomes higher. Alterations in desmosomal adhesion can be useful for early detection of high‐risk premalignant lesions, as well as for identification of invasive characteristics of primary non‐metastatic tumours. Early detection will help to control further progression of disease by timely intervention.