Pedro Paulo de Andrade Santos

Immunohistochemical expression of mast cell tryptase in giant cell fibroma and inflammatory fibrous hyperplasia of the oral mucosa

This study analysed the immunohistochemical expression of mast cell tryptase in giant cell fibromas (GCFs). In addition, the possible interaction of mast cells with stellate giant cells, as well as their role in fibrosis and tumour progression, was investigated. For this purpose, the results were compared with cases of inflammatory fibrous hyperplasia (IFH) and normal oral mucosa. Thirty cases of GCF, 30 cases of IFH and 10 normal mucosa specimens used as control were selected. Immunoreactivity of mast cells to the anti-tryptase antibody was analysed quantitatively in the lining epithelium and in connective tissue. In the epithelial component (p=0.250) and connective tissue (p=0.001), the largest mean number of mast cells was observed in IFHs and the smallest mean number in GCFs. In connective tissue, the mean percentage of degranulated mast cells was higher in GCFs than in IFHs and normal mucosa specimens (p<0.001). Analysis of the percentage of degranulated mast cells in areas of fibrosis and at the periphery of blood vessels also showed a larger mean number in GCFs compared to IFHs and normal mucosa specimens (p<0.001). The percent interaction between mast cells and stellate giant cells in GCFs was 59.62%. In conclusion, although mast cells were less numerous in GCFs, the cells exhibited a significant interaction with stellate giant cells present in these tumours. In addition, the results suggest the involvement of mast cells in the induction of fibrosis and modulation of endothelial cell function in GCFs.

Clinicopathologic analysis of 7 cases of oral schwannoma and review of the literature

Schwannomas, also known as neurilemmomas, are uncommon neoplasms apparently derived from Schwann cells. The growth of these tumors causes displacement and compression of the nerve of origin. Schwannomas are usually solitary lesions but can be multiple when associated with neurofibromatosis. Anti-S100 protein is the most widely used antibody for the identification of this neoplasm. Surgical excision is the treatment of choice for schwannomas, with few and controversial reports of recurrence or malignant transformation. The present article reports 7 additional cases of oral schwannoma, and the literature is reviewed regarding clinicopathologic features, immunohistochemical findings, differential diagnosis, and therapeutic management of this benign neural tumor.

Immunohistochemical expression of nuclear factor κB, matrix metalloproteinase 9, and endoglin (CD105) in odontogenic keratocysts, dentigerous cysts, and radicular cysts

OBJECTIVE The aim of this study was to compare the immunohistochemical expression of nuclear factor κB (NF-κB), matrix metalloproteinase 9 (MMP-9), and CD105 in odontogenic keratocysts (OKCs), dentigerous cysts (DCs), and radicular cysts (RCs). STUDY DESIGN Twenty cases of OKCs, 20 DCs, and 20 RCs were analyzed. A labeling index (LI), which expresses the percentage of NF-κB-stained nuclei, was calculated for the analysis of NF-κB expression. Expression of MMP-9 in the epithelium and in the capsule of each lesion was scored as 0 (<10% stained cells), 1 (10%-50% stained cells), or 2 (>50% stained cells). In addition, MMP-9 immunostaining was analyzed in endothelial cells of vessels with a conspicuous lumen. The angiogenic index was determined based on the number of anti-CD105 antibody-stained microvessels. RESULTS In the epithelial component, the NF-κB LI was higher in OKCs than in DCs and RCs (P < .001). Analysis of MMP-9 expression in the epithelial component showed a predominance of score 2 in OKCs (90%), DCs (70%), and RCs (65%; P = .159). Evaluation of the NF-κB LI according to the expression of MMP-9 in the epithelial lining revealed no significant difference between lesions (P = .282). In the fibrous capsule, the highest percentage of MMP-9-stained cells (score 2) was observed in OKCs (P = .100). Analysis of the expression of MMP-9 in the vessels of odontogenic cysts showed a predominance of score 2 in OKCs (80%) and RCs (50%) and of score 1 in DCs (75%; P = .002). Mean microvessel count was high in RCs (16.9), followed by DCs (12.1) and OKCs (10.0; P = .163). No significant difference in microvessel count according to the expression of MMP-9 was observed between groups (P = .689). CONCLUSIONS The results suggest that the more aggressive biologic behavior of OKCs is related to the higher expression of MMP-9 and NF-κB in those lesions. The differences in the biologic behavior of the lesions studied do not seem to be associated with the angiogenic index.

Sialolipoma of minor salivary glands

Sialolipoma is a recently described histologic variant of lipoma and is characterized by well-demarcated proliferation of mature adipocytes with secondary entrapment of salivary gland elements. These tumors have been observed in both the major and minor salivary glands, with more than 20 cases being reported in the English literature. In general, the clinical presentation of sialolipomas of the minor salivary glands suggests a diagnostic hypothesis of salivary gland lesions, commonly neoplasms. In the major salivary glands, the clinical features suggest either a salivary gland neoplasm or a lipoma. Surgical excision is the treatment of choice for sialolipomas, with no reports of recurrence or malignant transformation. The present article reports 4 additional cases of sialolipoma, all of them affecting the minor salivary glands, and reviews the literature regarding clinicopathologic aspects, differential diagnosis, and therapeutic management of this recently recognized histologic variant of lipoma.

Mast cells and matrix metalloproteinase 9 expression in actinic cheilitis and lip squamous cell carcinoma

OBJECTIVES The aim of this study was to evaluate mast cell (MC) density and migration and their association with matrix metalloproteinase (MMP) 9 expression in squamous cell carcinoma (SCC) and actinic cheilitis (AC). STUDY DESIGN Tryptase, c-Kit, and MMP-9 expression was evaluated in 20 cases of SCC, 20 cases of AC, and 7 cases of normal lip (control samples) by immunohistochemistry techniques. RESULTS Tryptase(+) and c-Kit(+) MC densities were significantly higher in SCCs than in ACs and control samples (P < .001). However, no significant difference was found when comparing tryptase(+) and c-Kit(+) MC densities between ACs and control samples (P values .185 and .516, respectively). MMP-9 was strongly expressed in SCCs and moderately expressed in ACs and control samples. A highly significant association was found between tryptase(+) MC density and the expression of MMP-9 (P < .001). CONCLUSIONS The increase in MC density associated with the strong expression of MMP-9 may favor SCC progression.

Botryoid odontogenic cyst: A clinicopathologic study of 10 cases

Botryoid odontogenic cyst is a rare multilocular variant of lateral periodontal cysts. In this study, a series of 10 cases of botryoid odontogenic cysts retrieved from the archives of the Postgraduation Program in Oral Pathology, Federal University of Rio Grande do Norte (Brazil), were reviewed for epidemiologic data, clinical presentation, radiographic and histopathologic characteristics, treatment, and recurrence.

Unusual coexistence of oral lymphoepithelial cyst and benign migratory glossitis

Alves Pereira, Karuza Maria; Weege Nonaka, Cassiano Francisco; de Andrade Santos, Pedro Paulo; Costa de Medeiros, Ana Myriam; Cavalcanti Galvao, Hebel Coexistencia incomum de cisto linfoepitelial oral e glossite migratoria benigna Brazilian Journal of Otorhinolaryngology, vol. 75, num. 2, marzo-abril, 2009, p. 318 Associacao Brasileira de Otorrinolaringologia e Cirurgia Cervico-Facial Sao Paulo, Brasil

Estudo epidemiológico das doenças dermatológicas imunologicamente mediadas na cavidade oral

BACKGROUND: Immune-mediated skin diseases encompass a variety of pathologies that present in different forms in the body. OBJECTIVE: The objective of this study was to establish the prevalence of the principal immune-mediated skin diseases affecting the oral cavity. METHODS: A total of 10,292 histopathology reports stored in the archives of the Anatomical Pathology Laboratory, Department of Oral Pathology, Federal University of Rio Grande do Norte, covering the period from 1988 to 2009, were evaluated. For the cases diagnosed with some type of disease relevant to the study, clinical data such as the gender, age and ethnicity of the patient, the anatomical site of the disease and its symptomatology were collected. RESULTS: Of all the cases registered at the above-mentioned service, 82 (0.8%) corresponded to immune-media ted skin diseases with symptoms affecting the oral cavity. The diseases found in this study were: oral lichen planus, pemphigus vulgaris and benign mucous membrane pemphigoid. Oral lichen planus was the most common lesion, comprising 68.05% of the cases analyzed. Of these cases, 64.3% were women and the cheek mucosa was the anatomical site most commonly affected (46.8%). CONCLUSION: Immune-mediated skin diseases affecting the oral cavity continue to be rare, the prevalence found in this study being similar to that reported for the majority of regions worldwide. Nevertheless, early diagnosis is indispensable in the treatment of these diseases, bearing in mind that systemic involvement is possible in these patients.

Double lip surgical correction in Ascher's syndrome: diagnosis and treatment of a rare condition.

Ascher’s syndrome is a rare disease first described in 1920 by Ascher, an ophthalmologist from Prague.1 The disease is characterized by a double upper lip, blepharochalasis, and nontoxic thyroid enlargement, though the thyroid enlargement may be evident in only 10% to 50% of patients.2,3 These deformities, though not posing functional problems, may cause severe psychological distress to the affected person because of the disfiguring effect on smiling.4 Prompt recognition of this syndrome can prevent unnecessary tests and diagnostic delays, and allow for quicker scheduling of appropriate surgical treatment.5

Immunohistochemical analysis of myofibroblasts, TGF-β1, and IFN-γ in epithelial odontogenic lesions

AIM To investigate the presence of myofibroblasts (MFBs) in epithelial odontogenic lesions by immunohistochemistry and to correlate the findings with tumor aggressiveness, as well as to analyze the expression of TGF-β1 and IFN-γ during the differentiation of these cells. METHODS AND RESULTS Twenty solid ameloblastomas (SAs), 10 unicystic ameloblastomas (UAs), 20 keratocystic odontogenic tumors (KCOTs), and 20 adenomatoid odontogenic tumors (AOTs) were selected. For evaluation of the presence of MFBs, anti-α-SMA-immunoreactive cells were quantified in connective tissue near the epithelium. The expression of TGF-β1 and IFN-γ was evaluated in epithelial and connective tissue by determining the percentage of immunoreactive cells. A higher concentration of MFBs was observed in SAs (mean of 30.55), followed by KCOTs (22.50), UAs (20.80), and AOTs (19.15) (P = 0.001). There was no significant correlation between the immunoexpression of TGF-β1 or IFN-γ and the number of MFBs (P > 0.05). CONCLUSIONS The larger number of MFBs suggests that these cells are one of the factors responsible for the more aggressive biological behavior of these lesions. The lack of correlation between the number of MFBs and immunoexpression of TGF-β1 and IFN-γ indicates that these proteins are not involved in the differentiation of this type of contractile cell in the lesions studied and that only the use of immunohistochemistry to establish such a correlation is a limiting factor.