Widening of the inferior alveolar canal: a case report with atypical lymphocytic infiltration of the nerve.
Widening of the inferior alveolar (mandibular) canal is a rare radiological finding. It is most often associated with neurofibromatosis. Rarely, a malignant process such as lymphoma may cause ill-defined enlargement of the mandibular canal. We present a unique case of a 33-year-old male who gradually developed sensory loss of his left lower lip and cheek and a well-defined tube-like widening of his left mandibular canal. The histopathological findings of the lesion were unusual in that they indicated atypical lymphocytic infiltration of the nerve tissue. The differential diagnoses regarding the clinical, radiological, and histopathological findings are discussed.
Vartiainen
Veli Matti
VM
Department of Diagnostics and Oral Medicine, Institute of Dentistry, University of Oulu, Oulu, Finland.
Siponen
Maria
M
Salo
Tuula
T
Rosberg
Jukka
J
Apaja-Sarkkinen
Meeri
M
D000328:Adult; D002610:Cheek / Q000294:innervation; D003937:Diagnosis, Differential; D006801:Humans; D006987:Hypesthesia; D008046:Lip / Q000294:innervation; D008214:Lymphocytes / Q000473:pathology; D008297:Male; D008340:Mandibular Nerve / Q000000981:diagnostic imaging / Q000473:pathology* / Q000601:surgery; D019253:Proto-Oncogene Proteins c-bcl-2 / Q000032:analysis; D011859:Radiography; D017455:Receptors, IgE / Q000032:analysis; D009418:S100 Proteins / Q000032:analysis
D019253:Proto-Oncogene Proteins c-bcl-2; D017455:Receptors, IgE; D009418:S100 Proteins