The objective of this study was to assess the prevalence of odontogenic cysts (OCs) in Sicily and evaluate their distribution during a 20-year period. A cross-sectional retrospective study was carried out in 1,310 cysts of the jaw diagnosed in 12,197 individuals, who consecutively attended the Odontostomatologic Clinic of Palermo from 1986 to 2005. 1,273 cysts were classified as odontogenic, whereas only 37 were nonodontogenic. In the former group, the most frequent lesions were radicular cysts (84.5%), followed by dentigerous OCs (11.4%). Inflammatory radicular cysts were observed more in male gender, younger age at diagnosis and anterior maxilla as site of presentation. Unlike dentigerous cysts, the frequency of radicular cysts decreased from 10. Keywords: odontogenic cysts; epidemiology; demographics. IntroductionOdontogenic cysts (OCs) are relatively rare cystic lesions that affect the maxillofacial region. According to the most recent World Health Organization (WHO) International Classification (1), OCs were classified into two main groups that reflect their pathogenesis. The first group includes radicular cysts, recognizing its inflammatory origin and development as the consequence of advanced caries and dental pulpar necrosis (2), whereas in the second group, lesions of developmental origin namely, dentigerous cysts and keratocysts are included.Although the prevalence of OCs in several European and non-European countries has been reported and different risk factors (dental trauma, sex, long-term chronic phlogistic processes, high caries index in early age and oral hygiene) have been mentioned as contributing to these lesions (2-5), there is still a general lack of data. In Sicily, the only data published is limited to a survey regarding keratocysts observed in the eastern part of the island (6). The aim of this study was to assess the prevalence of OCs in our country and evaluate their distribution in relation to social, demographic and behavioral data of the patients who visited for all oral pathological lesions during 20 years. Materials and Methods Study populationA retrospective survey was carried out in 12,197 individuals, who consecutively attended the Odontostomatologic Clinic of the University of Palermo from 1986 to 2005 for all oral pathological lesions.A total of 1,310 patients were diagnosed to be affected by cysts of the jaw (708 males and 602 females; mean age

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Paraformaldehyde is used both as a disinfectant and to devitalise inflamed pulps when local anaesthesia is ineffective. Despite the clinical benefits, paraformaldehyde is not confined to the pulp, but penetrates the dentine and is gradually released as formaldehyde. This case series describes the effects on periodontal and bone tissues of paraformaldehyde used as a devitalising or disinfectant agent

Cyclooxigenase (COX) is the rate-limiting enzyme for the conversion of arachidonic acid (AA) to prostaglandins (PGs). Two isoforms of COX have been identified: COX-1 is constitutively expressed in many cells and is involved in cell homeostasis, angiogenesis and cell-cell signalling; COX-2 is not expressed in normal condition however it is strongly expressed in inflammation. The oral cavity is costantly exposed to physical and chemical trauma that could lead to mucosal reactions such as hyperplasia, dysplasia and cancer. Early diagnosis is the most important issue to address for a positive outcome of oral cancer; therefore it would be useful to identify molecular markers whose expression is associated with the various stages of oral cancer progression. Since COX enzyme has been involved, with different mechanisms, in the development and progression of malignancies we decided to investigate the expression and localization of COX-1 and COX-2 in normal human oral mucosa and three different pathologies (hyperplasia, dysplasia and carcinoma) by immunohistochemistry and RT-PCR. COX-1 mRNA and protein have been detected already in normal oral mucosa and their expression progressively increases from normal samples towards hyperplasia, dysplasia and finally carcinoma. On the contrary, COX-2 is not expressed in the normal tissue, starts to be expressed in hyperplasia, reaches the maximum activation in dysplasia and then starts to be downregulated in carcinoma.

Abstract:In a retrospective investigation performed in the department of Surgical Odontostomatology of Palermo University Polyclinic from 1997-2006, the authors examined 12 cases of cervico-facial actinomycosis, taking into consideration age range, gender distribution, predisposing factors and symptoms. In concordance with reports in literature, they found that the disease was perimandibular in 65%, they also report the diagnostic methods and therapeutic approaches used in the study.