Immunohistochemical expression of PCNA and Ki-67 in periapical granuloma and radicular cyst

Objectives: periapical Granulomas [PGs] and Radicular Cysts [RCs], as the most common odontogenic lesions have yet unclear pathogenesis. This study was aimed to compare PCNA and Ki-67 expression in PGs and RCs and evaluate their possible relationship with two lesions

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Methods: in this cross-sectional descriptive study, twenty PGs and twenty RCs were evaluated immunohistochemically using an anti-PCNA and anti-Ki-67 polyclonal antibodies. PCNA[+] and Ki-67[+]cells were counted in connective tissue wall and epithelial lining [in RCs]. Statistical analysis was performed by using Mann-Whitney U test and Spearman's rank correlation coefficient

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Results: in PGs, percentage of PCNA and Ki-67 expression were found 70% and 30%, respectively; In RCs, PCNA and Ki-67 expression were observed 90% and 55%, respectively. Additionally, in RCS, Immunoexpression of PCNA [85%] and Ki-67 [60%] were detected at epithelial lining area. The positive immunoexpression of PCNA in RCs was greater than PGs [p<0.05]

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Conclusion: immunoexpression of PCNA and Ki-67 were detected in both lesions which may be mentioned as valuable markers for the prediction of biologic behavior of PGs and RCs