[Electron microscopy in oral squamous cell carcinoma of elderly patients].
OBJECTIVE
Squamous cell carcinoma is the most frequent tumor occurring in the oral cavity. The aim of the study is to point out the fine-structural characteristics of the tumor cells and of the adjacent stromal cells, trying to establish a correlation between these characteristics and the biological behavior of the tumor.


METHODS
We performed an electron microscopic investigation for tree elderly patients diagnosed with oral squamous cell carcinoma.


RESULTS
The tumoral cells presented nuclear abnormalities and the reduction of the intercellular cohesion, through an increase in the intercellular spaces, and desmosomal modifications. Through the abundance and the variety of the cellular types, the stromal component represented a positive response from the host.


CONCLUSIONS
In the diagnosis of the oral carcinoma, the electron microscopic exam supplements the light microscopic investigation, revealing important morphologic elements at a subcellular level (regarding the nucleus, cellular organelles, and junctions).
Scutariu
Mihaela Monica
MM
Disciplina de Semiologie Stomatologică, Facultatea de Medicină Stomatologică, Universitatea de Medicină şi Farmacie Gr.T. Popa Iaşi.
Cotrutz
C
C
Voroneanu
Maria
M
Ionescu
C R
CR
Căruntu
Irina-Draga
ID
Dobrescu
Gioconda
G
D000368:Aged; D001706:Biopsy; D002294:Carcinoma, Squamous Cell / Q000648:ultrastructure*; D006801:Humans; D008297:Male; D008854:Microscopy, Electron; D008875:Middle Aged; D009061:Mouth Mucosa / Q000648:ultrastructure; D009062:Mouth Neoplasms / Q000648:ultrastructure*