Adel Kauzman’s research while affiliated with University of Quebec in Montreal and other places

Pyoderma gangrenosum (PG) is a distinctive ulcerative skin disorder of unknown etiology, associated with an underlying systemic disease in up to 70% of cases. The condition is characterized by the appearance of one or more necrotic ulcers with a ragged undermined violaceous border and surrounding erythema. Lesions are often initiated by minor trauma. The condition can affect any anatomical site, however the head and neck are rarely involved. Although the oral cavity is subject to recurrent minor trauma through everyday activities such as mastication and oral hygiene, as well as during dental treatment, oral lesions appear to be extremely rare. In an effort to provide a detailed explanation of the oral manifestations of PG, a systematic search was conducted using medical databases. A total of 20 cases of PG with oral involvement were reported in the English and French literature. The objectives of this article are to present the pertinent diagnostic criteria and to discuss the differential diagnosis and therapeutic modalities.

Key Clinical Message Salivary gland aplasia and hypoplasia are rarely described in the medical literature. This article presents a case of aplasia and hypoplasia of the major salivary glands in a patient with Down syndrome. A literature review, as well as an overview of the diagnosis and management of this condition, is presented.

Benign fibro-osseous lesions of the maxillofacial skeleton constitute a heterogeneous group of disorders that includes developmental, reactive (dysplastic) and neoplastic lesions. Although their classification has been reviewed multiple times in the past, the most common benign fibro-osseous lesions are fibrous dysplasia, osseous dysplasia, and ossifying fibroma. For the dental clinician, the challenges involve diagnosis and treatment (or lack thereof). A careful correlation of all clinical, radiologic and microscopic features is essential to establish a proper diagnosis and a clear treatment plan. This article aims to review the clinical, radiological and histopathological characteristics of benign fibro-osseous lesions of the jaws, with emphasis on their differential diagnoses. With a deeper understanding of benign fibro-osseous lesions, clinicians will be better prepared to manage these lesions in their practice. This article is protected by copyright. All rights reserved.

Incidental radiopacities of the jaws are commonly identified on routine intraoral and extraoral radiographs. Dentists should be able to develop a differential diagnosis of these lesions. This article presents 2 cases in which mandibular radiopacities associated with external root resorption were identified incidentally and discusses the differential diagnosis of these lesions. Both patients were referred by their general practitioners to dental specialists for further evaluation of homogenous osteosclerotic foci surrounding and resorbing the roots of the permanent mandibular right first molar. The lesions were asymptomatic, caused no cortical expansion, and were static over time. The clinical and radiographic features were consistent with a diagnosis of idiopathic osteosclerosis (IO). External root resorption is present in 10%-12% of cases of IO and often involves the permanent mandibular first molars.

Melanocytic nevi are the most common benign proliferations of melanin-producing cells in Caucasians; up to 30 lesions can be seen in an adult individual. Lesional cells are usually superficially located in the epidermis-superficial dermis. Blue nevi are less common. They represent benign proliferations of fusiform dermal melanocytes in the submucosa or deep dermis. These cells contain abundant melanin granules. The blue color is due to the deep location of the lesional cells and the Tyndall effect. In the oral cavity, both melanocytic and blue nevi are rare; the hard palate being the site of predilection. The risk of malignant transformation of blue nevi is unknown; this is mainly due to the rarity of reported oral lesions. Therefore, the reporting of such cases is key to a better understanding and possibly predicting the clinical behavior of intraoral blue nevi. This article presents 2 patients with blue nevi in the oral cavity, and reviews the differential diagnosis of solitary pigmented lesions, including oral melanoma. The importance of proper diagnosis and treatment of oral pigmentations in general, and of melanocytic nevi in particular, is underlined in order to help the general dentist manage patients presenting with such lesions.