No abstract

By dividing a Dutch reference collection into two subsamples of different ages, remarkable differences were found in the suture closure process in these subsamples. Spearman rank correlations demonstrated that mean endocranial closure stage is correlated (P < 0.001) with age in the ages below fifty but not in tEe ages above fifty. In the latter ages the closure stage of individual suture sections showed positive as well as negative correlations (0'001 ~< P < 0.05) with age at death. Therefore two different suture closure indices were introduced as age indicators, one for each subsample. Both indices are correlated (P < 0"001) with age within their subsample. It is supposed that the required division into subsamples may be realized with the help of other age indicators. As possible age indicator, especially when used together with others in "complex methods", suture closure has not yet served its turn.

No abstract

Sclerosing polycystic adenosis is a recently described, extremely rare, reactive, sclerosing, inflammatory process somewhat similar to fibrocystic changes and adenosis tumor of the breast. To date, there have been 22 cases described in the literature. Because of the infrequency of this lesion, we describe our combined experience with 16 cases, 1 of which has been previously reported. Thirteen tumors arose in the parotid gland, two involved the submandibular gland, and one arose in the buccal mucosa. There were 9 men and 7 women. Patients ranged in age from 9 to 75 years. Fourteen patients presented with a primary mass. Two were incidental findings in patients with a mixed tumor and an oncocytoma. Tumors ranged in size from 0.3 to 6 cm in greatest dimension. They are typically well circumscribed and are composed of densely sclerotic lobules with prominent cystic change. Hyperplasia of ductal and acinar elements and areas of apocrine-like metaplasia are frequent. Foci with mild ductal epithelial atypia were frequent with >50% of cases demonstrating at least focal areas of duct epithelial hyperplasia with atypia. Follow-up ranged from 1.5 to 40 years. One tumor recurred twice; no patient has developed metastases or died of disease.

Juvenile ossifying fibroma (JOF) is a maxillofacial fibro-osseous lesion that may show cell-rich osteoid strands or psammoma-like ossicles. Whether both types are variants of a single entity or different lesions under the same diagnostic label is a subject of debate. This problem was investigated by analyzing a series of 33 patients with lesions having one or both of the above histological appearances. It was concluded that osteoid strands define a unique fibro-osseous lesion but that lesions with psammoma-like ossicles fall within the morphological spectrum of cemento-ossifying fibroma. Therefore the term juvenile ossifying fibroma should be reserved for the lesion with the osteoid strands.