North Texas Dentistry Volume 7 Issue 2 NTD 2017 ISSUE 2 DE | Page 5

Assessing
Tumors of the
Head and Neck
Texas A&M College of Dentistry
Texas A&M College of Dentistry oral pathologist
among authors of World Health Organization’s
classification of oral tumors
By Jennifer Eure Fuentes
toward the project concentrate on odonto-
genic tumors in addition to cysts and tu-
mors of the oral cavity and tongue.
These tumors are one of the few areas of
pathology unique to dentistry, Wright
says, because they arise from the same tis-
sues that make our teeth.
Dr. John Wright
No matter what organ system in the body
may be affected, if a tumor, cyst or lesion
is known to exist, the World Health Or-
ganization has a classification for it. In
fact, there are entire books on the subject,
updated every decade or so. These classi-
fications have become the benchmark for
pathologists, oncologists and health care
providers in diagnosing and treating pa-
tients with various tumors.
One such text, the WHO Classification of
Head and Neck Tumours, published this
January, includes expertise from Texas
A&M College of Dentistry faculty mem-
ber Dr. John Wright, Regents Professor
and head of diagnostic sciences.
Of the 33 pathologists worldwide who con-
tributed to the 347-page text, Wright was
one of just six oral pathologists. His efforts
“It is important for dentists to be familiar
with the odontogenic lesions because very
few physicians are,” Wright says. “The new
WHO classification reflects the evolving
knowledge of odontogenic lesions, and I
believe dentists have a responsibility to
remain cognizant of the changes, just as
they should for the evolving landscape of
restorative dentistry.”
This is the fourth edition of the classifica-
tion, which was first published in 1971.
With each update, pathologists and med-
ical experts pore over evidence-based
research in the form of peer-reviewed pub-
lications and factor in technological ad-
vancements that constantly transform the
medical landscape.
“One of the biggest trends is our current
ability to explore the molecular and
genetic changes in all of these tumors,”
Wright says. “Most of this information was
not available in the latest edition in 2005
but is added to the current edition with a
discussion of its biologic relevance to diag-
nosis and patient care.”
The manual’s reach extends beyond the
health professional to influence medical
coding and even billing matters.
“The WHO classification is considered one
of the gold standards for the existence of
various tumors,” Wright says. “For in-
stance, in the U.S., a pathologist must use
a diagnosis code in order to get paid for
diagnosing a tumor. Many pathologists
use ICD — International Classification of
Diseases — codes. In 2005, the WHO re-
classified the odontogenic keratocyst as a
tumor, and in the latest edition of the ICD,
keratocyst was recoded as a tumor.”
Jennifer Eure Fuentes is a communications
specialist at Texas A&M Health Science Center
Baylor College of Dentistry. A 2006 graduate of
Texas Christian University, she has worked in the
communications and editorial field for more than
10 years.
Texas A&M College of Dentistry (formerly Baylor Col-
lege of Dentistry) in Dallas is a part of Texas A&M
University and the Texas A&M Health Science Cen-
ter. Founded in 1905, the College of Dentistry is a
nationally recognized center for oral health sciences
education, research, specialized patient care and
continuing dental education.
www.northtexasdentistry.com
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