apanayotou P

Vascular leiomyoma of the oral cavity.

Abstract Leiomyomas may occur in the humam body wherever smooth muscle is present. The uterus is the most common site; 20% of reported cases occur in uteri of women over the age of 30 years. 1 Other sites are the wall of the alimentary tract, the skin, and the subcutaneous tissue. 2 The earliest case of leiomyoma of the oral cavity was reported by Blan 3 in 1884 in a 33-year-old man. The leiomyoma is considered a rare tumor of the oral cavity; our review of the literature has disclosed only 68 reported cases.

Tumor-Associated Glycoprotein (TAG-72) in Chronic Submandibular Sialadenitis and Normal Minor Salivary Glands Defined by Monoclonal Antibody B72.3

Formalin‐fixed, paraffin‐embedded samples of three normal minor salivary glands, 10 chronic submandibular sialadenitis, and three normal submandibular glands were studied immunohistochemically using the monoclonal antibody (Mab) B72.3 in order to have a better understanding of the distribution of tumor‐associated glycoprotein (TAG‐72). Diffuse expression of TAG‐72 was observed in the mucous cells of normal minor salivary glands, and in the ducts with goblet cell metaplasia and/or hyperplasia of chronic submandibular sialadenitis (eight of 10). Focal expression of TAG‐72 was seen in the acinar mucous cells of normal submandibular gland (three of three), and in the mucous cells of normal or atrophic acini of chronic submandibular sialadenitis (eight of 10). These results should be considered in the cytologic diagnosis of the mucoepidermoid carcinoma using the Mab B72.3 as a diagnostic aid, as well as in future studies for the radiation immunolocalization and immunotherapy of submandibular gland tumors.