title: Widening of the inferior alveolar canal: a case report with atypical lymphocytic infiltration of the nerve.
abstract: 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.
authors.affiliation: Department of Diagnostics and Oral Medicine, Institute of Dentistry, University of Oulu, Oulu, Finland.
authors.forename: Veli Matti
authors.initials: VM
authors.lastname: Vartiainen
authors.forename: Maria
authors.initials: M
authors.lastname: Siponen
authors.forename: Tuula
authors.initials: T
authors.lastname: Salo
authors.forename: Jukka
authors.initials: J
authors.lastname: Rosberg
authors.forename: Meeri
authors.initials: M
authors.lastname: Apaja-Sarkkinen
mesh_terms: 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
chemical_list: D019253:Proto-Oncogene Proteins c-bcl-2; D017455:Receptors, IgE; D009418:S100 Proteins