title: [Electron microscopy in oral squamous cell carcinoma of elderly patients].
abstract: 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).
authors.affiliation: Disciplina de Semiologie Stomatologică, Facultatea de Medicină Stomatologică, Universitatea de Medicină şi Farmacie Gr.T. Popa Iaşi.
authors.forename: Mihaela Monica
authors.initials: MM
authors.lastname: Scutariu
authors.forename: C
authors.initials: C
authors.lastname: Cotrutz
authors.forename: Maria
authors.initials: M
authors.lastname: Voroneanu
authors.forename: C R
authors.initials: CR
authors.lastname: Ionescu
authors.forename: Irina-Draga
authors.initials: ID
authors.lastname: Căruntu
authors.forename: Gioconda
authors.initials: G
authors.lastname: Dobrescu
mesh_terms: 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*