Research

The Department of Oral Pathology aims to excel and be at the forefront of cutting edge research by extending knowledge of the mechanisms of disease, especially at the molecular level.  Such detailed information will hopefully lead to improved understanding of disease and ultimately in the arrest and reversal of disease processes of health and social significance.  The Department offers higher degree supervision to registrars in Oral Pathology, Maxillo-facial and Oral Surgery, Oral Medicine and Periodontology, Anatomical Pathology as well as to MSc (Dent) students from allied oral health sciences.   

Collaborations: Departments of Maxillofacial and Oral Surgery, Maxillofacial and Oral Radiology, Oral Medicine and Periodontology,  Sefako Makgatho Health Sciences University, South Africa University of Pretoria, University of Vermont, USA. 

Research niche areas: Odontogenic tumours, Salivary gland tumours, Odontogenic cysts, Cysts of the head and neck, Benign fibro-osseous lesions, HIV/AIDS, Lymphomas. Head and Neck Carcinoma. 

Recent Publications  

1. Kuruma C, Ngwenya S, Shangase S. Clinico pathological evaluation of focal reactive lesions of the Gingiva. South African Dental Journal. 76 (8) 465 – 470. 2021.
2. Meer S., Perner Y, McAlpine E, Willem P. Extraoral plasmablastic lymphomas in a high human immunodeficiency virus endemic area. Histopathology 76(0):212-221. 2020.
3. Manenzhe SC, Ngwenya SP, Shangase SL. The diagnostic accuracy of the HIV 1/2/subtype O Tri-line rapid test compared with ELISA: A pilot study. Oral Diseases.26 (0):161-164. 2020.
4. 4. Singh N, Ngwenya S, Molepo J. The microbiology of head and neck space infections at the Maxillofacial Clinic at Livingstone Hospital. South African Dental Journal 75(4):192-197. 2020. 
5. Mahomed Y, Meer S. Primary epithelial minor salivary gland tumors in South Africa: A 20-Year Review. Head and Neck Pathology. 14(0): 715-723. 2020.
6. Benaessa MM, Mahomed F, Ngwenya SP. A retrospective clinico-pathologic analysis of cemento-osseous dysplasia in a South African patient population. African Health Sciences 19(4): 3154-3159. 2020.
7. Mohammed M, Mahomed F, Ngwenya S. A survey of pathology specimens associated with impacted teeth over a 21-year period. Medicina Oral Patologia Oral y Cirugia Bucal 1, 24(5); 571-576. 2019.
8. Meer S. Review: Human immunodeficiency virus and salivary gland pathology: an update. Oral Surgery Oral Medicine Oral Pathology Oral Radiology. Jul; 128(1):52-59. 2019.
9. Manenzhe SC, Ngwenya SP, Shangase SL, Mohangi GU. South African Dental Journal Oral medicine case book 75: Mucoepidermoid carcinoma of the lower lip: review and a case report. 72(6): 262 – 265. 2017.
10. Alli, N., Meer, S. Head and neck lymphomas: A 20-year review in an Oral Pathology Unit, Johannesburg, South Africa, a country with the highest global incidence of HIV/AIDS. Oral Oncology. (67), 17–23. 2017.
11. Meer, S., Dulabh, S. Human immunodeficiency virus-associated cystic lymphoid hyperplasia: An immunohistochemical description. Indian Journal of Pathology and Microbiology 60(3), 336-340. 2017.
12. R. Khammissa R, M. Altini M, Meer S, Lemmer J, Feller L. Oral mucosal melanoma. 2017. Translational Research in Oral Oncology. 2: 1–7. 2017.
13. Wood N; Khammissa; Lemmer J; Feller; Meer S. Lower facial cervical lymphadenopathy in the context dentistry. South African Dental Journal.  71(10): 509 – 512. 2016.
14. Lalla K; Mahomed F; Meer S. Keratinizing odontogenic cysts with a spectrum of verrucoid morphology: investigation of a potential role of human papillomavirus. Oral Surgery Oral Medicine Oral Pathology Oral Radiology. 122(5):625-630. 2016.
15. Jivan V; Meer S. Quantification of oral palatine Langerhans cells in HIV/AIDS associated oral Kaposi sarcoma with and without oral candidiasis Journal of  Cancer and Research Therapeutics. 12(2):705-11. 2016.