Posts by Patricia de Vries

Background: In university dental schools, students receive teaching from both university staff and hospital service staff. Whilst there primarily for patient care, a substantial portion of staff time is committed to teaching. Therefore, formal education credentialling could be seen as an important foundation for effective teaching. While qualifications may enhance pedagogical skills, some perceive them…

Abstract title: Scleroderma’s Oral Spectrum: Small Mouths, Big Problems. A Case Series. Authors: Dr F Mattan1*, Dr J H Macken1,2*, Dr J Buchanan1, Professor F Fortune1,2,3 Author affiliations: 1Oral Medicine department, Royal London Dental Hospital, Barts Health NHS Trust, London, E1 1BB. 2Oral Immunobiology & Regenerative Medicine, Faculty of Medicine & Dentistry, Queen Mary University…

Introduction: Paraneoplastic pemphigus (PNP) is a rare, autoimmune-mediated, blistering, mucocutaneous disease which is almost always associated with a confirmed neoplasm. We present a case of a 49-year old female with paraneoplastic pemphigus secondary to Castleman’s Disease. Case summary: The patient was referred with a 4 month history of severe and progressive oral ulceration, unresponsive to…

Introduction: Mucosal melanoma comprises 0.8%-3.7% of all melanoma cases. It results from abnormality in the melanocytes, which produce melanin, a pigment in the basal layer of the epithelial membrane. 32-40% of all oral cavity malignant melanomas are on the palate. Tumours on the hard palate include squamous cell carcinoma, mucoepidermoid carcinoma and adenoid cystic carcinoma.…

Expert clinicians hold diagnostic pathways in their minds within cognitive structures known as illness scripts. These scripts develop through the re-organisation of existing knowledge following experience, which is a process that takes time. We reasoned that if the early knowledge could be organised and taught in a way aligned to the illness script then this…

Background We report the case of a 63-year-old male referred to the oral and maxillofacial department with new intermittent headaches and paraesthesia of his lower right lip associated with an unerupted LR5. This patient had been known to the department due to a previous referral around 3 years prior for treatment of a dentigerous cyst…

Introduction: Lymphangioma is a rare benign tumour, caused by congenital malformation of the lymphatic system. It commonly occurs in infants and children. It mainly presents in the head and neck region but is uncommon in the oral cavity. Here we present a case of intraoral lymphangioma in a paediatric patient. Case report: An 8-year-old boy…

A 45-year-old male patient, with Down Syndrome (DS) and a history of hypothyroidism, was referred to the Oral Medicine department regarding chapped lips. The patient had no complaints; however, his mother reported a 15-year history of cracking and bleeding of the lips. Previous treatment for cracked lips included: emollients, miconazole nitrate 2% cream and long-term…

Title:  Social Media and Oral lichen planus: opinions, opportunists & opportunity. Background:   With health misinformation on the rise and an estimated 4.89 billion social media users globally, this project aimed to consider what patients are consuming outside the clinical environment, specifically in relation to oral lichen planus (OLP), one of the most encountered conditions in…

Syphilis is a highly contagious disease caused by infection with the anaerobic filamentous spirochete, Treponema pallidum. It is transmitted horizontally by sexual contact and vertically in pregnancy. Often referred to as the ‘great imitator’, syphilis commonly mimics the clinical presentation of other conditions, making it vulnerable to misdiagnosis or delayed diagnosis. Oral manifestations of syphilitic…