The aim of this study is to share the experience of implementing a network for the diagnosis of oral cancer by integrating primary, secondary, and tertiary oral health care centers and identifying the possible weaknesses of the process. The study also investigated the risks of exposure to the main risk factors for oral and lip cancer and their most common potentially malignant lesions (PML). A quantitative cross-sectional study was conducted in two different regions, with patients seen at a primary health care facility from August 2010 to July 2011. Patients with oral lesions were referred to dental specialty centers for biopsy. Patients with PML were treated in dental specialty centers, and patients with squamous cell carcinoma (SCC) were referred to tertiary health care facilities. The dentists' knowledge of PML and SCC was assessed by an objective questionnaire. A total of 3,965 individuals were examined, 296 lesions were found, and 73 biopsies were performed, of which 13.7% were diagnosed as PML and 9.6% as SCC. Tobacco use and sunlight exposure were associated with SCC (85.7%) and PML (80%), respectively. In total, 55 dentists were assessed. The lesions most commonly recognized as PML were leukoplakia (74%), erythroplakia (57%), and actinic cheilosis (56%). Most dentists (74%) felt incapable of performing biopsies, most likely because of an anxiety towards oral cancer, and 57% had never performed one. The integration of primary and secondary health care enables the diagnosis of PML and SCC and establishes a diagnosis network. However, the inability of most primary care dentists to identify PML and perform biopsies is a weakness of the diagnostic process.

INTRODUÇÃO: A rara ocorrência de neurofibromas orais (NO) gera problemas com relação à caracterização epidemiológica e imuno-histoquímica dessas lesões. OBJETIVOS: Avaliar a expressão celular de diferentes marcadores em NO e revisar dados epidemiológicos reportados na literatura. MATERIAL E MÉTODOS: Estudos clinicopatológico, imuno-histoquímico (marcadores S-100, epithelial membrane antigen [EMA] e CD-34) e histoquímico (método Ziehl-Neelsen modificado) foram realizados em oito casos de NO diagnosticados no Departamento de Patologia e Medicina Legal (DPML) da Universidade Federal do Ceará (UFC), Ceará, Brasil, entre 1994 e 2010. RESULTADOS: Os NO representaram 0,2% das lesões bucais diagnosticadas pelo serviço em 16 anos; mucosa jugal foi a localização mais frequente (71,4%); sete (87,5%) e oito (100%) casos apresentaram positividade para S-100 e CD-34, respectivamente, e nenhum para EMA. Adicionalmente, mastócitos foram identificados em sete casos (87,5%). A revisão de literatura indicou que NO solitários são mais comuns e ocorrem preferencialmente em mulheres, afetando pacientes entre 30 e 40 anos. O rebordo alveolar é a localização intraoral mais comum. CONCLUSÃO: Os marcadores S-100 e CD34 provaram ser de grande valor como ferramentas diagnósticas, diferente da coloração EMA. A identificação de mastócitos na maioria dos casos sugere seu envolvimento na patogênese desse tumor. Os dados clinicopatológicos da revisão de literatura ajudaram no estabelecimento de um perfil epidemiológico mais consistente.

INTRODUCTION: The rarity of oral neurofibromas (ONs) generates problems regarding their epidemiological and immunohistochemical characterization. OBJECTIVES: The aim of this study was to evaluate the expression of different markers in ONs and review epidemiologic data reported in the literature. MATERIAL AND METHODS: Clinicopathologic, immunohistochemical (markers S-100, epithelial membrane antigen [EMA], CD34) and histochemical (modified-Ziehl-Neelsen-method) studies were performed in eight cases of ON diagnosed in the Department of Pathology and Legal Medicine (DPML), Universidade Federal do Ceará (UFC), Ceará, Brazil, between 1994 and 2010. RESULTS: Oral neurofibromas represented 0.2% of the oral lesions diagnosed by our service in 16 years, and the buccal mucosa was the most frequent oral site (71.4%). Seven (87.5%) and 8 (100.0%) cases were positive for S-100 and CD34, respectively, and none for EMA. Mast cells were identified in seven cases (87.5%). The literature search indicated that solitary ONs are more common and occur preferentially in females, affecting patients between 30 and 40 years old. The alveolar ridge is the most commonly involved site. CONCLUSION: S-100- and CD34 markers proved to be of great value as a diagnostic tool, unlike EMA staining. Identification of mast cells in most cases suggests their involvement in this tumor pathogenesis. The clinicopathologic data retrieved from the literature enabled the establishment of a more consistent epidemiological profile.