Background
Neurofibromas (NF) are benign tumors of the peripheral nerves that are composed of Schwann cells, perineural-like cells and fibroblasts. The differential diagnosis for a solitary intraneural variant of neurofibroma arising in the floor of the mouth is broad and includes a submandibular gland neoplasm and adenopathy, among others. The intraoral approach is the best choice for a medium-sized lesion.
Case presentation
We report a rare case of a solitary neurofibroma of the floor of the mouth in a 31-year-old male. The patient consulted the dental emergency department for acute pain of the left mandible. Systematic clinical examination revealed the presence of a mass in the left mouth floor. The panoramic x-ray was not conclusive and the magnetic resonance imaging (MRI) revealed a well-defined soft tissue lesion with homogenous isosignal intensity on the T1-weighted image, high intensity signal on the T2-weighted image and heterogeneous enhancement following contrast-enhancement on the T1-weighted Fast Sat image. The surgical excision of the soft-tissue neoplasm was accomplished by an intraoral approach. The specimen was sent for histopathologic analysis and Immunohistochemical studies which confirmed the diagnosis of a myxoid predominant intraneural solitary neurofibroma.
Conclusion
The diagnosis of neurofibroma was confirmed by histopathological evaluation and immunohistochemical studies which also excluded other entities in the histopathologic differential diagnosis including schwannoma and a malignant peripheral nerve sheath tumor among other. Localized (solitary) neurofibromas most often occur as sporadic lesions, however; diagnosis of a solitary neurofibroma prompts clinical evaluation to exclude the remote possibility of neurofibromatosis. The purpose of this case report is to raise awareness of the uncommon presentation of neurofibroma and to document the successful management of such a lesion using an intraoral approach.
Background
Whereas the incidence of cancers increases, overall survival of cancerous patients improves. Preventing the onset of second primary cancer is a new public health challenge and requires a special attention from organ specialists. We report a rare case of carcinoma cuniculatum in a context of metastatic prostate cancer. No case was previously described. Diagnosis delay of carcinoma cuniculatum is frequent and particularly in case of endophytic intra-osseous topography. The aim of this case report is to remind that persistent pain requires medical evaluation to rule out any possibility of second primary cancer.
Case presentation
A 78-year-old patient followed for a metastatic prostate cancer had been describing neuralgic dental pain in the lower posterior left quadrant for several months. Healing delay of tooth #37 (second left mandibular molar) extraction socket in the painful region led to an intra-alveolar incisional biopsy, which showed a tumor widely invading the mandibular body. Radiologic, histopathologic and clinical elements finally concluded to an intra-osseous carcinoma cuniculatum. Duration of total treatment (oral biopsy to hemimandibulectomy) and follow up were about five months and one year respectively. Patient died before reconstruction.
Conclusion
This case recalls that any persistent tooth pain affecting cancer patients requires a thorough review to exclude any secondary primary cancers or any metastasis of the oral cavity and more specifically in jawbones.
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