ABSTRACT
OBJECTIVE: Mucoepidermoid carcinoma (MEC) is the most common malignant salivary tumour, classified as low, intermediate and high grade. Myofibroblasts are the main stromal component and are included as prognostic factor in some tumours. The aim of this study was to evaluate the myofibroblasts in the stroma of MEC with possible relationship to malignancy grading. METHODS: Twenty-five cases of MEC (six low grade, 11 intermediate grade, four high grade and four metastasis) were stained for vimentin, desmin and smooth muscle actin (SMA) for the identification of myofibroblasts. Transforming growth factors (TGFbeta1 and TGFbetaRII) were also assessed in our study. RESULTS: Myofibroblasts were present in all cases, in amounts varying according to histological grading. TGFbeta1 was positive in squamous cells of intermediate grade tumours, and in the stroma of only four cases. TGFbetaRII was positive in most squamous and intermediate cells, regardless of malignancy grading. CONCLUSIONS: Our study showed that the analysis of neoplastic stroma must be added to the studies of neoplastic cells to draw a better picture leading to tumour diagnosis and prognosis.
Subject(s)
Carcinoma, Mucoepidermoid/pathology , Fibroblasts/pathology , Salivary Gland Neoplasms/pathology , Actins/analysis , Actins/biosynthesis , Carcinoma, Mucoepidermoid/chemistry , Carcinoma, Mucoepidermoid/metabolism , Desmin/analysis , Desmin/biosynthesis , Fibroblasts/chemistry , Fibroblasts/metabolism , Humans , Immunohistochemistry , Neoplasm Proteins/analysis , Neoplasm Proteins/biosynthesis , Prognosis , Protein Serine-Threonine Kinases , Receptor, Transforming Growth Factor-beta Type II , Receptors, Transforming Growth Factor beta/analysis , Receptors, Transforming Growth Factor beta/biosynthesis , Salivary Gland Neoplasms/chemistry , Salivary Gland Neoplasms/metabolism , Stromal Cells/chemistry , Stromal Cells/metabolism , Stromal Cells/pathology , Transforming Growth Factor beta/analysis , Transforming Growth Factor beta/biosynthesis , Transforming Growth Factor beta1 , Vimentin/analysis , Vimentin/biosynthesisABSTRACT
Rhabdomyosarcoma is the most common soft-tissue sarcoma of the head and neck region in children and adolescents. Oral cavity involvement is relatively uncommon, with tongue, soft palate, hard palate, and buccal mucosa being the sites of predilection. This report presents a rare case of intraosseous oral rhabdomyosarcoma arising in the mandibular bone of a 6-year-old child. Clinical, radiologic, and histopathologic features and possible pathogenesis are discussed.
