Perspective on the use of scraping cytology for jawbone destructive lesions, entamoeba gingivalis, and actinomyces co-infection: a retrospective analysis

Abstract Objectives Microbial infections can influence destructive jawbone lesions, yet the role of Entamoeba gingivalis (E. gingivalis) in these lesions is poorly understood, particularly when co-infected with Actinomyces. This study introduces a novel clinicopathological perspective on jawbone des...

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Main Authors: Tsuyoshi Kurobane, Sukhbaatar Ariunbuyan, Shiro Mori, Hiroyuki Kumamoto, Tsuyoshi Sugiura
Format: Article
Language:English
Published: BMC 2025-08-01
Series:Head & Face Medicine
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Online Access:https://doi.org/10.1186/s13005-025-00535-4
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author Tsuyoshi Kurobane
Sukhbaatar Ariunbuyan
Shiro Mori
Hiroyuki Kumamoto
Tsuyoshi Sugiura
author_facet Tsuyoshi Kurobane
Sukhbaatar Ariunbuyan
Shiro Mori
Hiroyuki Kumamoto
Tsuyoshi Sugiura
author_sort Tsuyoshi Kurobane
collection DOAJ
description Abstract Objectives Microbial infections can influence destructive jawbone lesions, yet the role of Entamoeba gingivalis (E. gingivalis) in these lesions is poorly understood, particularly when co-infected with Actinomyces. This study introduces a novel clinicopathological perspective on jawbone destruction linked to E. gingivalis and Actinomyces co-infection, aiming to improve diagnosis and treatment. In this study, we tried to evaluate minimally invasive methods for improving diagnosis and treatment for jawbone destruction, possibly linked to E. gingivalis and Actinomyces co-infection. We analyzed 11 cases of jawbone destructive lesions observed in patients (ages 42 to 83, both female and male) who visited Tohoku University Hospital from January 2015 to December 2021, in which scraping cytology detected E. gingivalis and Actinomyces. Materials and methods We thoroughly assessed clinical symptoms, imaging findings, and treatment outcomes, including the duration of antimicrobial therapy, to identify distinctive patterns associated with this co-infection. Results On imaging, patients exhibited significant mandibular resorption and sclerosis, despite the absence of typical symptoms of osteomyelitis or actinomycosis. Notably, E. gingivalis alone was linked to faster wound healing and shorter antimicrobial therapy durations compared to cases with concurrent Actinomyces infection (p = 0.011). The use of minimally invasive procedures, focusing on removing necrotic bone and loose teeth, led to effective healing and rapid recovery across all cases, offering promising prospects for enhanced treatment outcomes. Conclusion This study underscores the value of scraping cytology for early identification of E. gingivalis and Actinomyces in jawbone lesions. Early detection and targeted intervention can prevent disease progression, enhance patient outcomes, and optimize antimicrobial use. Clinical relevance These findings highlight the need for increased awareness of microbial co-infections in jaw osteomyelitis and support a new clinicopathological approach to diagnosis and management.
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spelling doaj-art-33b6571dfbc14c088acd8f021f45168f2025-08-20T03:06:09ZengBMCHead & Face Medicine1746-160X2025-08-0121111610.1186/s13005-025-00535-4Perspective on the use of scraping cytology for jawbone destructive lesions, entamoeba gingivalis, and actinomyces co-infection: a retrospective analysisTsuyoshi Kurobane0Sukhbaatar Ariunbuyan1Shiro Mori2Hiroyuki Kumamoto3Tsuyoshi Sugiura4Oral and Maxillofacial Surgery, Oral Medicine and Surgery, Tohoku University HospitalOral and Maxillofacial Oncology and Surgical Sciences, Tohoku University Graduate School of DentistryOral and Maxillofacial Oncology and Surgical Sciences, Tohoku University Graduate School of DentistryOral Pathology, Tohoku University Graduate School of DentistryOral and Maxillofacial Surgery, Oral Medicine and Surgery, Tohoku University HospitalAbstract Objectives Microbial infections can influence destructive jawbone lesions, yet the role of Entamoeba gingivalis (E. gingivalis) in these lesions is poorly understood, particularly when co-infected with Actinomyces. This study introduces a novel clinicopathological perspective on jawbone destruction linked to E. gingivalis and Actinomyces co-infection, aiming to improve diagnosis and treatment. In this study, we tried to evaluate minimally invasive methods for improving diagnosis and treatment for jawbone destruction, possibly linked to E. gingivalis and Actinomyces co-infection. We analyzed 11 cases of jawbone destructive lesions observed in patients (ages 42 to 83, both female and male) who visited Tohoku University Hospital from January 2015 to December 2021, in which scraping cytology detected E. gingivalis and Actinomyces. Materials and methods We thoroughly assessed clinical symptoms, imaging findings, and treatment outcomes, including the duration of antimicrobial therapy, to identify distinctive patterns associated with this co-infection. Results On imaging, patients exhibited significant mandibular resorption and sclerosis, despite the absence of typical symptoms of osteomyelitis or actinomycosis. Notably, E. gingivalis alone was linked to faster wound healing and shorter antimicrobial therapy durations compared to cases with concurrent Actinomyces infection (p = 0.011). The use of minimally invasive procedures, focusing on removing necrotic bone and loose teeth, led to effective healing and rapid recovery across all cases, offering promising prospects for enhanced treatment outcomes. Conclusion This study underscores the value of scraping cytology for early identification of E. gingivalis and Actinomyces in jawbone lesions. Early detection and targeted intervention can prevent disease progression, enhance patient outcomes, and optimize antimicrobial use. Clinical relevance These findings highlight the need for increased awareness of microbial co-infections in jaw osteomyelitis and support a new clinicopathological approach to diagnosis and management.https://doi.org/10.1186/s13005-025-00535-4EntamoebaActinomycesScrape cytologyJaw diseaseAntimicrobials
spellingShingle Tsuyoshi Kurobane
Sukhbaatar Ariunbuyan
Shiro Mori
Hiroyuki Kumamoto
Tsuyoshi Sugiura
Perspective on the use of scraping cytology for jawbone destructive lesions, entamoeba gingivalis, and actinomyces co-infection: a retrospective analysis
Head & Face Medicine
Entamoeba
Actinomyces
Scrape cytology
Jaw disease
Antimicrobials
title Perspective on the use of scraping cytology for jawbone destructive lesions, entamoeba gingivalis, and actinomyces co-infection: a retrospective analysis
title_full Perspective on the use of scraping cytology for jawbone destructive lesions, entamoeba gingivalis, and actinomyces co-infection: a retrospective analysis
title_fullStr Perspective on the use of scraping cytology for jawbone destructive lesions, entamoeba gingivalis, and actinomyces co-infection: a retrospective analysis
title_full_unstemmed Perspective on the use of scraping cytology for jawbone destructive lesions, entamoeba gingivalis, and actinomyces co-infection: a retrospective analysis
title_short Perspective on the use of scraping cytology for jawbone destructive lesions, entamoeba gingivalis, and actinomyces co-infection: a retrospective analysis
title_sort perspective on the use of scraping cytology for jawbone destructive lesions entamoeba gingivalis and actinomyces co infection a retrospective analysis
topic Entamoeba
Actinomyces
Scrape cytology
Jaw disease
Antimicrobials
url https://doi.org/10.1186/s13005-025-00535-4
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