Objective: Angiogenesis or neovascularization has long been known to aid in progression and metastasis of malignant tumors. Tumor angiogenesis is a complex event mediated by angiogenic factors released from cancer cells and or by host immune cells. Mast cells may induce tumor progression and potentiate metastasis by stimulating angiogenesis. The purpose of the present study was to validate topographic distribution of micro vessel density (MVD) and mast cell density (MCD) and help to elucidate the possible role of mast cells in tumor angiogenesis and correlating this with advanced disease parameters. Study Design: MVD and MCD were investigated in tumor specimens from 30 patients diagnosed with different histologic grades of oral squamous cell carcinoma (OSCC). Intratumor vessels were stained with collagen Type IV antibody and mast cells with Toluidine blue before being measured by light microscopy. Results: There was a significant correlation between MVD and disease progression and number of blood vessels increased from well to poorly differentiated OSCC where as MCD decreased. Conclusions: These findings suggest that angiogenesis indeed occur in OSCC and might be used as an index to inflect the aggression of the disease however mast cells make up only a part of complex process of angiogenesis along with other factors secreted by tumor. Key words:Angiogenesis, mast cells, oral squamous cell carcinoma, progression, metastasis.

The recent advances in molecular biology have revolutionized all aspects of dentistry. DNA, the language of life yields information beyond our imagination, both in health or disease. DNA fingerprinting is a tool used to unravel all the mysteries associated with the oral cavity and its manifestations during diseased conditions. It is being increasingly used in analyzing various scenarios related to forensic science. The technical advances in molecular biology have propelled the analysis of the DNA into routine usage in crime laboratories for rapid and early diagnosis. DNA is an excellent means for identification of unidentified human remains. As dental pulp is surrounded by dentin and enamel, which forms dental armor, it offers the best source of DNA for reliable genetic type in forensic science. This paper summarizes the recent literature on use of this technique in identification of unidentified human remains.

Calcifications or hard tissue deposits in the wall of keratocystic odontogenic tumor (KCOT) are rare and uncommon. Three types of calcifications have been reported in the literature: dystrophic, cartilagenous, dentinoid. A case of maxillary KCOT with calcification is reported with a review on prevalence and pathogenesis of these calcifications. The calcifications associated with the connective tissue of keratocystic odontogenic tumor were studied using special stains. These calcifications were positive for collagen stains, Van Gieson, Masson trichrome, and negative for congo red and mallory suggesting that these irregularly shaped, diffuse calcifications which form on a collagenous matrix are dysplastic dentin.

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Radiographically enlarged dental follicle is observed in many cases associated with delayed tooth eruption. Pericoronal radiolucencies are seen in neoplasms (odontogenic fibroma), developmental anomalies (regional odontodysplasia), hamartomatous lesions (odontogenic epithelial hamartoma), opercula of third molars, in follicles associated with unerupted third molars, regional odontodysplasia, in dental follicles around impacted teeth of enamel dysplasia with hypodontia syndrome and amelogenesis imperfecta cases with multiple impactions. Interestingly, operculum and the follicle of these lesions histopathologically are identical to odontogenic fibroma (WHO) type. However, the lack of universally accepted clinic-pathological features for such lesions may hinder their recognition. We report a case of regional odontodysplasia wherein (in which) the impacted canine is surrounded by radiolucency measuring about 1.5-2 cm, histopathologic examination of the excised opercula revealed features reminiscent of central odontogenic fibroma (WHO type) with an abundance of odontogenic epithelium and calcifications. The aim of this paper is to discuss various lesions exhibiting histopathological features similar to odontogenic fibroma, as awareness of the clinicopathological features of such lesions is very important to plan proper treatment. togenic fibroma), developmental anomalies (regional odontodysplasia) and hamartomatous lesions. Normal dental follicles associated with unerupted teeth are frequently misinterpreted histologically as central ossifying fibroma (COF).Central odontogenic fibroma is a rare benign tumour arising within the jaws. The relatively few reports in the literature suggest that odontogenic fibroma is rare and, in addition, its histogenesis and even its existence as an independent entity are disputed. Interestingly, the term odontogenic epithelial hamartoma was used in the past to describe lesions that were clinically and histopathologically identical to odontogenic fibroma and considered to represent a transitional stage between a developmental anomaly and a true odontogenic tumor 2) .We review a case of an impacted canine surrounded by a pericoronal radiolucency, the excised

This case report presents an unusual swelling of the palate in a 61-year-old-male patient. Histopathologically, it revealed features of two separate adjacent lesions, a spindle cells lesion showing diffuse immune-positivity for S-100 protein and focal positivity to glial fibrillary acid protein and an osseous lesion with numerous trabaculae of bone, adipocytes and myxoid tissue confirming the diagnosis of collision tumor of benign peripheral nerve sheath tumor and osteoma. Extensive search of English literature shows no reported cases of peripheral nerve sheath tumor with osteoma. The probable histogenesis of this collision tumor is discussed in detail. The purpose of this case report is to document this rare case in the literature so as to increase the awareness of this entity.