Efficiency of Crystal Violet Stain to Study Mitotic Figures in Oral Epithelial Dysplasia.

AIM: To evaluate mitotic activity in the different grades of oral epithelial dysplasia using 1% crystal violet stain. MATERIAL AND METHODS: A descriptive study was conducted in the Department of Histopathology of the Post Graduate Medical Institute, Lahore on a total of thirty-three cases of the Oral Epithelial Dysplasia (OED). Fresh, frozen paraffin-embedded archival tissue blocks were collected from Lahore General Hospital, Lahore & Oral & Maxillofacial Surgery Department of Nawaz Sharif Hospital, Yakki Gate, Lahore. The representative sections were taken and, after processing, mounted on glass slides and stained with H&E and crystal violet stains. The stained slides were then examined under an optical microscope. The efficacy of 1% crystal violet stain to identify mitotic figures in the different grades of oral epithelial dysplasia was assessed with the sample t-test. A difference of p < 0.05 was considered to be significant. RESULTS: A comparison of the mitotic figure count in two categories in sections stained with both stains showed a statistically significant difference. An increase in the mean mitotic count was noted in the sections of OED stained with crystal violet in comparison to the sections of OED stained with H&E which was statistically significant (p = 0.00). CONCLUSION: Counting of mitotic cell is the rapid and simplest way of evaluating the proliferative activity of cells. Crystal violet stain can be a rationalised step in the staining of mitotic figures compared to the usual H&E staining and can be employed as a selective stain during routine histopathological procedures.

Cardiac Amorphous Tumour (CAT) Presenting with Thrombocytopenia.

Cardiac calcified amorphous tumour (CAT) is a rare non-neoplastic lesion with only a few cases reported in literature. We present an interesting case of CAT that was associated with unexpectedly low platelet count. A 40-year man presented with shortness of breath on exertion. Echocardiogram showed a mobile mass within the right atrium. Mass was surgically excised. His platelet count varied from 26,000/ul to 54,000/ul before surgery, which increased postoperatively. Histopathological examination revealed amorphous mass of eosinophilic fibrin with dense calcification. No morphologic evidence of myxoma was seen and the final diagnosis of CAT of the heart was rendered. CAT is a rare cardiac lesion with an excellent prognosis after complete surgical removal. The microscopic examination is the only tool for definitive diagnosis.