Oral Cavity and Salivary Gland Pathology

This set of vocabulary flashcards covers diseases and tumors of the oral cavity and salivary glands, including premalignant lesions and inflammatory conditions.

Stomatitis

Inflammation of the oral mucosa.

Aphthous stomatitis

Multiple, small superficial painful ulcers (less than $5\,mm$ in diameter) of unknown etiology, more common in children and young adults, often involving stress or autoimmune factors.

Moniliasis (Candidiasis)

An oral infection caused by $Candida\;albicans$ appearing as a superficial, curdy, gray-to-white membrane that can be scraped off to reveal an erythematous base.

Leukoplakia

A premalignant condition characterized by a thick white mucosal patch or plaque that cannot be rubbed off.

Erythroplakia

A premalignant condition characterized by a red mucosal patch or plaque that cannot be rubbed off; it has a higher risk of malignant transformation than leukoplakia.

Squamous cell papilloma

The most common benign tumor of the oral cavity, often caused by HPV low-risk types 6, 8, and 11, presenting as a warty growth with finger-like extensions.

Squamous cell carcinoma (SCC)

The most common malignant tumor of the oral cavity, with risk factors including high-risk HPV types 16 and 18, smoking, alcohol, and tobacco chewing.

Keratin pearl

A microscopic feature of Squamous cell carcinoma where malignant cells are arranged in nests with central keratinization.

Verrucous Carcinoma

A form of squamous carcinoma showing minimal atypia and bulbous rete pegs with a 'pushing margin'; it has an excellent prognosis and never sends metastasis.

Sialadenitis

Inflammation of the salivary glands.

Sialolithiasis

The formation of stones in the salivary ducts, leading to obstruction, pain, and swelling, most commonly in the submandibular gland.

Mumps (Acute viral parotitis)

A bilateral painful parotid enlargement caused by the Paramyxovirus, which may lead to complications such as orchitis, oophritis, or pancreatitis.

Mikulicz disease (Sjogren syndrome)

An autoimmune disease characterized by bilateral firm enlargement of salivary and lacrimal glands, resulting in dry mouth and dry eyes.

Pleomorphic adenoma

The most common benign tumor of the salivary glands; it shows epithelial and myoepithelial cells in a chondromyxoid or fibrous stroma and has a tendency to recur due to capsule fenestration.

Warthin tumor

The second most common benign tumor of the salivary gland, specifically related to smoking and characterized by double-layered oncocytic epithelium and stroma rich in lymphocytes.

Mucoepidermoid carcinoma

The most common malignant tumor of the salivary glands, microscopically composed of malignant squamous cells, mucin-secreting cells, and intermediate cells.

Adenoid cystic carcinoma

A malignant salivary gland tumor accounting for about $10\%$ of all salivary carcinomas, characterized by a cribriform microscopic pattern and perineural invasion.