Immunohistochemical detection of dentritic cells in basal cell carcinoma of head and neck

Histogenesis of B.c.c. remains unclear, some investigators suggested that it arises from pluripotential immature epidermal cells which may differentiate in several directions to produce a variety of patterns, consequently it may be multicentric in origin. Twenty five cases of basal cell carcinoma of the head and neck region were studied. HLA-DR antigen expression was associated to some extent to degree of cell differentiation, and the depth of the tumor not with the histological subtypes of basal cell carcinoma. Detection of langerhans cells among less infiltrative be lal cell crcinoma confirm their possible role in the efficiency c he host immune response

Evaluation of argyrophilic nucleolar organizer regions [NORs] in hodgkin's disease in the head and neck region

In the present study, subjects of Hodjkin's disease [HD] presenting in the head and neck region, were investigated using the AgNORs technique. Quantification of AgNORs staining will allow one to obtain comparative information directly from paraffin section among subtypes of HD. In this study, the AgNORs in both R-S cells and the cellular background were counted/cell in twenty cases of HD, presenting in the head and neck region. From this study it could be concluded that: -At the statistical level, there is an overall agreement with the grading efficiency of the Rye classification. However, AgNOR count might be considered an objective biologic parameter independent of the histological grading at the level of evaluating an individual case.- There is a striking variation in the proliferative activity of the R-S cells in some of the Lymphocytic predominant [LP] cases of HD. It is suggested that the Mixed cellularity [MC] and Lymphocytic depletion [LD] subtypes may be of nearly similar biology potentiality. - The comparatively increased AgNORs count in the surrounding background in some cases might indicate an increased proliferative activity, the nature of which is different from that of the hyperplastic lymph nodes

Ultrastructural study of clinically radioresponsive oral carcinoma: is it a true regression?

Thirteen patients presented with oral SCC were of clinical stages; I, II, and III, biopsied before and 6-7 weeks, after irradiation therapy, for ultra-structural examination. Post irradiated subjects, were selected to be seven, of whom complete regression of the tumour lesions were clinically proved. Post irradiation, light microscopic examination of semi-thin sections were correlated to the clinical picture, as reepithelization was almost normal, stromal fibrosis was obvious with absence of malignant cells. Utrastructural examination revealed comparable alterations in the epithelium, basal almina discontinuity and invasion of epithelial cells to the underlying connective tissue stroma. These cells showed similarity to the preexisting epithelial malignant cells, on the ultrastructural level. Recovery of these cells to regain their capacity for proliferation, might be considered, as signs expecting recurrence. Presence of some inflammatory cells; mast cells, histocytes and active lymphocytes, might have a role in initiating radioresponsiveness. Mast cell might have a harmful influence, initiated by irradiation, so further study was recommended to reveal its role. From the present study it can be concluded that: 1. Clinical regression of irradiated oral SCC and its light microscopic examination were unsatisfactory measures for reporting complete curability. 2. Electron microscopy could detect minute residual invading epithelial cells which were not observed by other measures. 3. Electron microscopy, might be a valid tool in early detection of asymptomatic oral SCC whether denovo or recurrence, however a suggested easier method of exfoliative cytology, on the ultrastructural level, might be of value. 4. Irradiation therapy even for small tumour lesions of oral carcinoma, seemed to be unsatisfactory for compete treatment. Adjuvant treatment modalities, reconsiderations and close follow up of such patients were considerably needed. 5. Further study was needed to investigate clearly, the role of mast cell in radiation response of oral SCC