Background:Many studies have been carried out to study the role of extracellular matrix proteins, growth factors and matrix metalloproteinases on tumor invasion. However, literature related to the analysis of connective tissue fibers in varying grades of oral squamous cell carcinoma (OSCC) is very limited.Aim:To analyze the changes in collagen and elastic fibers in varying grades of (OSCC).Settings and Design:This retrospective study was carried out using a light and polarizing microscope.Materials and Methods:Three sections each were cut from fifty samples of varying grades of OSCC and ten samples of control followed by staining with H and E, Picrosirius-Red and Verhoeff–Van Gieson. Qualitative and quantitative analysis of collagen and elastic fibers were accomplished using set criteria.Statistical Analysis:Data were entered into the Statistical Package for Social Sciences (SPSS) version 13.5 for analysis.Results:A change in colors of collagen fibers was seen on progressing from well to poorly differentiated OSCC. Thin collagen fibers predominantly exhibited greenish yellow, but the thick fibers exhibited a variety of colors. As the grade of OSCC progressed, collagen fibers were loosely packed haphazardly arranged. Statistically insignificant results were obtained for quantitative analysis of collagen and qualitative analysis of elastic fibers.Conclusion:The collagen fibers undergo a change in color, orientation and packing in the stroma of varying grades of OSCC. The uniqueness of this study lies in the exploration of elastic fibers in OSCC which has not been done so far.

Background:Recent studies have indicated that although malignant cells at the invasive tumor front, bare morphological resemblance to the cells at central portion of the tumor, their molecular character differs significantly. E-cadherin is a cell-cell adhesion molecule that connects epithelial cells. This study attempts to correlate the E-cadherin expression at the invasive tumor front with tumor differentiation along with its clinico-pathological parameters.Materials and Methods:Immunohistochemical staining with E-cadherin was carried out on archival cases of primary oral squamous cell carcinomas (n = 30). The E-cadherin expression at the invasive tumor front was analyzed and was linked to clinico-pathological parameters including patient prognosis.Results:The downregulation of E-cadherin expression at the invasive tumor edge when compared with patient's prognosis yielded a significant correlation (P = 0.041) but its correlation with the degree of differentiation determined was not significant (P = 0.27). Also, its association with tumor size and lymph node status was negative.Conclusions:Loss of E-cadherin expression at the invasive tumor front is an important event in the progression of oral squamous cell carcinomas. Tumors with a loss of expression of E-cadherin are those which had a poor prognosis

Pleomorphic adenoma (PA) is the most common benign salivary gland tumor. Histologically, squamous metaplasia has been reported in PA, but has rarely been documented as being extensive enough to cause significant misdiagnosis. Here, we present an unusual case of PA in a 50-year-old female patient presenting with swelling on the postero-lateral aspect of the palate for a week. Histopathologically, the tumor exhibited the features of conventional PA with extensive squamous metaplasia and giant keratotic lamellae in cyst-like areas. Such exuberant squamous metaplasia and keratin can be a diagnostic and prognostic pitfall and lead to overtreatment of the patient.

Growth factors like bone morphogenetic protein 4 (BMP4) and fibroblast growth factor 8 (FGF8) play a major role in organogenesis and specifically in odontogenesis. They are also believed to have a role in oncogenesis. Thus, any discrepancies in their standard behavior and activity would lead to serious abnormalities including odontogenic cyst and tumors. The present research work investigated the expression of BMP4 and FGF8 in odontogenic tumors (OT) and cyst as well as developing tooth germs to elucidate their roles. Dental organs of various odontogenic stages and 30 OTs including solid multicystic ameloblastomas (SMA, 10 cases), ameloblastic fibroma (AF, 10 cases), odontogenic myxoma (OM, 10 cases), and odontogenic cysts: odontogenic keratocyst (OKC, 10 cases) were evaluated in both epithelial and mesenchymal components for the expression of BMP4 and FGF8 using immunohistochemistry. The epithelial nuclear expression of BMP4 was highest in OKC (9 cases) while FGF8 was highest in SMA (10 cases). The mesenchymal nuclear expression of both BMP4 (8 cases) (p = 0.001) and FGF8 (9 cases) (p = 0.045) were significantly high in OMs among all OTs. Both growth factors were actively expressed in different stages of tooth development. The expression of BMP4 and FGF8 corelates well with the proliferative component of the pathologies, indicating a possible role in the pathogenesis and progression.

Introduction:Age estimation is a preliminary step in the identification of an individual. It is a crucial and often most critical step for forensic experts. The assessment has been standardized utilizing common dental diagnostic x-rays, but most such age-estimating systems are European population-based and their applicability has not been determined in the context of the Indian population.Aims and Objectives:To assess the applicability and to compare the methods of dental age estimation by Demirjian's method and the same method as modified by Willems (i.e. the Willems method) in Indian children of the National Capital Region (NCR). Also, to find a correlation among skeletal maturity using the Cervical vertebrae maturation index (CVMI), dental maturity, and chronological age in the same population.Materials and Methods:This cross-sectional study was conducted using dental radiographs of 70 orthodontic patients (37 males, 33 females) in the age range 9-16 years selected by simple random sampling. pantomogram were used to estimate dental age by Demirjian's method and the Willems method using their scoring tables. Lateral cephalograms were used to estimate skeletal maturity using CVMI. The latter was compared with Demirjian's stage for mandibular left second molar.Results:Overestimation of age among males by 0.856 years and 0.496 years was found by Demirjian's and the Willems methods, respectively. Among females, both the methods underestimated the age by 0.31 years and 0.45 years, respectively. Demirjian's stage G corresponded to CVMI stage 3 in males and stage 2 in females.Conclusion:In our study, the Willems method has proved to be more accurate for age estimation among Indian males, and Demirjian's method for Indian females. A statistically significant association appeared between Demirjian's stages and CVMI among both males and females. Our study recommends the derivation of a regression formula by studying a larger section of the Indian population instead of applying the European system of age estimation directly to the Indian scenario.

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Background:Cytological artifacts are important to learn because an error in routine laboratory practice can bring out an erroneous result.Aims:The aim of this study was to analyze the effects of delayed fixation and morphological discrepancies created by deliberate addition of extraneous factors on the interpretation and/or diagnosis of an oral cytosmear.Materials and Methods:A prospective study was carried out using papanicolaou and hematoxylin and eosin-stained oral smears, 6 each from 66 volunteer dental students with deliberate variation in fixation delay timings, with and without changes in temperature, undue pressure while smear making and intentional addition of contaminants. The fixation delay at room temperature was carried out at an interval of every 30 minutes, 1 day and 1 week and was continued till the end of 1 day, 1 week, and 1 month, respectively. The temperature variations included 60 to 70°C and 3 to 4°C.Results:Light microscopically, the effect of delayed fixation at room temperature appeared first on cytoplasm followed by nucleus within the first 2 hours and on the 4th day, respectively, till complete cytoplasmic degeneration on the 23rd day. However, delayed fixation at variable temperature brought faster degenerative changes at higher temperature than lower temperature. Effect of extraneous factors revealed some interesting facts.Conclusions:In order to justify a cytosmear interpretation, a cytologist must be well acquainted with delayed fixation-induced cellular changes and microscopic appearances of common contaminants so as to implicate better prognosis and therapy.