Pigmented lesions represent an uncommon diagnosis in oral pathology routines. The most frequent entities are amalgam tattoo, melanotic macule, and nevus. Patients are usually middle-aged women presenting a small, long-lasting, macular lesion on the cheek mucosa.

Fifteen cases of smooth muscle tumor of the alimentary tract were collected for analysis from several institutions. The findings showed that angiography is the best method available for diagnosis and evaluation of such tumors but is unable to differentiate benign from malignant lesions unless arterial invasion is detected. Computer tomography, ultrasound, and angiography are compared in the diagnosis of one case. Additionally, the angiographic pattern of a leiomyoblastoma is presented, presumably for the first time.

Background: The aim was to analyze the frequency, clinical and demographic features of solitary and multiple/diffuse oral pigmented lesions submitted to histopathological examination, and to summarize the features that guide the clinical differential diagnosis.Methods: Clinical and demographic data were retrieved from biopsy records and descriptive statistics were performed.Results: Nine hundred and five (0.51%) oral pigmented lesions were retrieved among 177 356 specimens, being 95.9% solitary and 4.1% multiple/diffuse lesions. Regardless the overlapping clinical presentation, age, site, association with amalgam restoration, and a nodular appearance may help in the clinical differential diagnosis of solitary oral pigmentations. Patient's habits, site, and systemic signs and symptoms are helpful in the clinical differential diagnosis of multiple/diffuse lesions.

Background: Benign connective and soft-tissue neoplasms (CSTNs) are unusual in the head and neck region. The aim of the present study was to evaluate the demographic and clinicopathological features of these neoplasms. Methods: A cross-sectional study was conducted of cases diagnosed as benign CSTNs, with data collected from biopsy records. The chi-square test was used. A p-value <0.05 was considered indicative of statistical significance. Results: Among the 38 119 specimens, 1066 (2.79%) were benign CSTNs: 369 fibroblastic/myofibroblastic, 250 adipocytic, 179 vascular, 130 neural, 94 osseous/cartilaginous, 19 muscular, and two fibrohistiocytic. Most patients were female (62.8%) and white-skinned (45.8%). Mean age was 42 years. The tongue (25.2%) was the most affected site for extraosseous neoplasms. Conclusion: This study had the largest sample of benign oral and maxillofacial CSTNs. Although these tumors have similar clinical features, the characterization and differentiation detailed here may help clinicians with regards to the correct diagnosis. K E Y W O R D S connective tissue, diagnosis, neoplasms, oral pathology, soft-tissue neoplasms 1 | INTRODUCTION Benign connective and soft-tissue neoplasms (CSTNs) develop from structures of the connective and subcutaneous tissue. These neoplasms are denominated in accordance with their cell of origin and, as benign tumors, do not invade or metastasize to other organs. 1-5 Benign CSTNs of the oral and maxillofacial region are a heterogeneous group of adipocytic, neural, vascular, osseous, cartilaginous, muscular, fibrohistiocytic, fibroblastic, and myofibroblastic tumors. 4,5 Some of these neoplasms are rare in head and neck region, whereas others have a preference for this region. 6-55 Importantly, benign oral and maxillofacial CSTNs are associated with systemic diseases. Neural neoplasms are seen in neurofibromatosis, Noonan syndrome, and multiple endocrine neoplasia type 2B. 6 Gardner syndrome is related to bone tumors, especially osteomas, 7 and myofibromatosis is associated with myofibromas. 8 From the clinical standpoint, many oral and maxillofacial CSTNs have overlapping characteristics, which poses a challenge with regards to establishing the correct clinical diagnosis. These CSTNs usually appear as nodular or tumoral, painless, slow-growing, pink lesions

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Objective To evaluate the impact of the COVID‐19 pandemic on the number of diagnoses of oral and maxillofacial lesions in public laboratories after one year of COVID‐19 outbreak in Brazil. Material and Methods This is a cross‐sectional study. Biopsies submitted to histopathologic examination from March 2019 to February 2020 (pre‐pandemic period) and from April 2020 to March 2021 (pandemic period) in nine Brazilian public oral pathology laboratories were retrieved and the number of diagnoses, types of lesion, and percentage changes during both periods were analyzed. Results There were 7389 diagnoses in the pre‐pandemic period and 2728 in the pandemic era, indicating a reduction of 63.08%. The reduction was 64.23% for benign lesions and 49.48% for malignant lesions, with a 50.64% reduction in squamous cell carcinoma. The largest decreases were observed in April 2020 and January 2021. Conclusion An important reduction in the diagnoses of benign and malignant lesions was noted in the Brazilian public oral pathology laboratories during the first year of the COVID‐19 pandemic.

Background Cytopathologic analysis is feasible and provides detailed morphological characterisation of head and neck lesions. Aims To integrate the available data published on fine‐needle aspiration cytology (FNAC) used for the diagnosis of plasma cell neoplasms (PCN) of the head and neck region. Materials and Methods Searches on PubMed, Web of Science, Embase, and Scopus were performed to compile data from case reports/case series published in English. The Joanna Briggs Institute tool was used for the critical appraisal of studies. Results A total of 82 studies comprising 102 patients were included in this review. There was a predilection for men (68.6%) (male/female ratio: 2.1:1). Individuals in their 50s (29.4%), 60s (22.5%), and 70s (22.5%) were more often affected. The thyroid gland (26.2%) was the main anatomical location, followed by scalp (15.5%), neck/cervical region (15.5%), jaws (13.6%), and major salivary glands (13.6%). For FNAC analysis, a smear was employed in 41 (40.6%) cases and a cell block was used in four (3.9%). In 56 (55.4%) reports, no cytological methods were available. Morphologically, 34 (56.7%) cases had a diagnosis of PCN with agreement between cytopathology and histopathology. The rate of wrong diagnoses when using cytology was 27.5%. Immunophenotyping was performed in 49 (48%) of the cases. The 69‐month disease‐free survival rate was 60.2%, while the 27‐month overall survival rate was 64.1%. Conclusion This study reinforces that FNAC can be an ancillary tool in the first step towards the diagnosis of PCN of the head and neck region, especially when applying a cell block for cytological analysis.

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