Rare amyloidoma of the tongue base: A case report and review of the literature

Orofacial symptoms suggestive of malignant lesions and the role of imaging: literature review and case presentation

Among the patients seeking dental treatment, some may present with symptoms that cannot be resolved by dental treatment alone. Patients with orofacial symptoms associated with malignant diseases, which require medical treatment, often visit dental clinics for their initial consultation. Delays in making a definitive diagnosis worsen the patient's prognosis. Therefore, dental clinicians should also be aware of the signs and symptoms associated with malignant diseases. The chief complaints of these patients include numb chin syndrome (NCS), painless swelling of the palate and neck, trismus and temporomandibular disorders, and an enlarged tongue. This article aimed to review these orofacial symptoms and related diseases and describe representative cases of these diseases to obtain a definitive diagnosis via imaging. Panoramic radiograph is widely used in general dentistry, and this article reaffirmed the importance of panoramic radiograph anatomical landmarks in diagnosing the cases presented in this paper.

Anticancer properties of bromelain: State-of-the-art and recent trends

Bromelain is a key enzyme found in pineapple (Ananas comosus (L.) Merr.); a proteolytic substance with multiple beneficial effects for human health such as anti-inflammatory, immunomodulatory, antioxidant and anticarcinogenic, traditionally used in many countries for its potential therapeutic value. The aim of this updated and comprehensive review focuses on the potential anticancer benefits of bromelain, analyzing the cytotoxic, apoptotic, necrotic, autophagic, immunomodulating, and anti-inflammatory effects in cancer cells and animal models. Detailed information about Bromelain and its anticancer effects at the cellular, molecular and signaling levels were collected from online databases such as PubMed/MedLine, TRIP database, GeenMedical, Scopus, Web of Science and Google Scholar. The results of the analyzed studies showed that Bromelain possesses corroborated pharmacological activities, such as anticancer, anti-edema, anti-inflammatory, anti-microbial, anti-coagulant, anti-osteoarthritis, anti-trauma pain, anti-diarrhea, wound repair. Nonetheless, bromelain clinical studies are scarce and still more research is needed to validate the scientific value of this enzyme in human cancer diseases.

Macroglossia reveals multiple myeloma

We present an eighty-year old man with a one year history of progressive macroglossia, dysphagia and loss of weight. He had a medical history of arterial hypertension and prostatic hypertrophy which he had under good therapeutic control. The entire tongue was swollen, had hard solidity and was slightly painful upon palpation. A tongue biopsy revealed an amyloid deposition as it coloured bright orange-red on Congo Red staining and lead us subsequently to the diagnosis of amyloidosis; then a bone marrow biopsy confirmed the diagnosis of multiple myeloma. The case was further evaluated by a multidisciplinary team who considered it appropriate to start a lowdose melphalan treatment combined with supportive care. When macroglossia in the tongue is confirmed to be amyloidosis the differential diagnosis should include systemic amyloidosis deposition and multiple myeloma.

Oral and Maxillo-Facial Manifestations of Systemic Diseases: An Overview

Many systemic (infective, genetic, autoimmune, neoplastic) diseases may involve the oral cavity and, more generally, the soft and hard tissues of the head and neck as primary or secondary localization. Primary onset in the oral cavity of both pediatric and adult diseases usually represents a true challenge for clinicians; their precocious detection is often difficult and requires a wide knowledge but surely results in the early diagnosis and therapy onset with an overall better prognosis and clinical outcomes. In the current paper, as for the topic of the current Special Issue, the authors present an overview on the most frequent clinical manifestations at the oral and maxillo-facial district of systemic disease.

Postoperative amyloidosis of tongue base: Extremely rare complication after multilevel sleep surgery

Amyloidosis is to be considered in the differential diagnosis of postoperative edema of tongue base after its ablation. It might be triggered by surgical trauma. After establishment of diagnosis, cause of secondary amyloidosis should be excluded.