Background and aims. Because of increasing concerns about surgeries in the anterior maxilla, including implant placement, it is necessary to examine the morphology of the nasopalatine canal and its surrounding bones. This study aimed to analyze the shape and position of the nasopalatine canal and incisive foramen using cone-beam computed tomography (CBCT). Materials and methods. CBCT images of 110 patients referred to Hamadan School of Dentistry were examined. The size and shape of the nasopalatine canal and incisive foramen, the distance between the incisive foramen and the anterior nasal spine, and the distance between the anterior border of the nasopalatine canal and the labial surface of the buccal plate were recorded. Results. The nasopalatine canal length decreased and its diameter increased with aging. The canal was found to be longer and wider in men. Patients without incisors had longer and thicker nasopalatine canals. The distance from the nasopalatine canal to the labial surface of the buccal plate was not gender-related but decreased with age. The distance to the labial cortical surface decreased significantly with loss of incisors. Conclusion. Given the diversities in the size and shape of nasopalatine canals, it is highly important to perform CBCT to prevent neurovascular damage.

P63 may have a role in tumorigenesis and cytodifferentiation of odontogenic lesions. We investigated the immunohistochemical expression of P63 in a total of 30 cases of odontogenic cysts and tumors. The percentage of positive cells was calculated in the lining of odontogenic cysts and islands of ameloblastoma. P63 expression was evident in all types of odontogenic lesions. P63 was expressed throughout the lining epithelium of odontogenic keratocyst except surface parakeratinized layer. In addition, calcifying odontogenic cyst showed P63 expression in all layers. In almost all radicular and dentigerous cysts, the basal and parabasal layers were immunoreactive. Peripheral cells of ameloblastoma expressed P63; however, stellate reticulum had weaker immunostaining. No significant difference in P63 expression was observed between studied lesions (P = 0.86). Expression of P63 in odontogenic lesions suggests that this protein is important in differentiation and proliferation of odontogenic epithelial cells. However, it seems that it could not be a useful marker to differentiate between aggressive and nonaggressive lesions. P63 also represents a progenitor or basal cell marker, and it is not expressed in mature differentiated cells.

BackgroundThe incidence of oral cancers varies from one country to another, which can be clarified by the difference in the distribution of the risk factors and the possible etiologies. Tongue is a main segment of oral cavity and malignant lesions of this region accounts for nearly 30% of all oral cancers.ObjectivesIn the present study, we evaluated the pattern of tongue cancer in Iranian population and compared these findings with those previously reported in the other countries.MethodsIn this multicenter, retrospective cross-sectional study recorded cases of the malignant tongue tumors in the cancer research center (CRC) of Shahid Beheshti University of Medical Sciences were extracted. The patient records and their microscopic reports were retrieved from the archives and age, sex and microscopic types were evaluated. It is to be noted that the CRC has been serving as a cancer registry center for major hospitals all over the country since the year of 2003. Thus, the obtained statistics are highly reliable.ResultsDuring the years 2003 to 2008, a total number of 952 new cases of the tongue cancer were recorded in the CRC. Most cases are diagnosed in the sixth and seventh decades of life. 450 cases (47.2%) occurred in men and 489 cases (51.36%) in women. Four different types of malignant lesions (epithelial, salivary gland, hematopoietic and mesenchymal) were diagnosed. Epithelial tumors were the most prevalent malignancies (93%) of which squamous cell carcinoma (SCC) made up 87.39% of all lesions. Salivary gland tumors had the second place with 3.15% of the total lesions.ConclusionsIn Iranian population, squamous cell carcinoma is the most prevalent malignancy of tongue and it is notable that the ratio of female to male population was equal. These lesions were prevalent in the sixth and seventh decades of life. Thus screening examination of tongue by dentist especially in elderly patients is necessary for early detection of cancerous lesions.

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Introduction: Central giant cell granuloma is a benign lesion but sometimes has aggressive proliferation composed of multinucleated giant cells in a background of spindle and ovoid mesenchymal cells. Multifocal central giant cell granuloma of jaws is very rare and usually associated with hyperparathyroidism and some syndromes. We described an unusual case of a 22-year-old man with idiopathic multiple central giant cell granuloma of mandible without significant clinical findings. The parathyroid hormone level, calcium and phosphorus inorganic were in normal limit. Patient had no familial history and clinical characteristic of Cherubism, Noonanlike syndrome and neurofibromatosis. This article refers to the fact that multiple central giant cell granuloma may be associated with no signs of systemic or specific syndromes and it can be an independent and idiopathic disease.