title: Distribution of mast cells in benign odontogenic tumors.
abstract: The aim of this study was to investigate the presence of mast cells in a series of odontogenic tumors. Forty-five cases of odontogenic tumors were investigated using immunohistochemistry for mast cell triptase, and differences between groups were statistically evaluated. Mast cells were present in 96% of odontogenic tumors. Mast cells present in solid ameloblastoma were observed in the tumor stroma surrounding more solid and follicular epithelial islands, with or without squamous metaplasia. The odontogenic mixoma showed few mast cells. In odontogenic tumors with a cystic structure, the mast cells were distributed throughout all areas of the lesions, mainly in keratocystic odontogenic tumor. In addition, the total density of mast cells between all odontogenic tumors showed no significant difference (p > 0.05). A greater mast cells distribution was found in keratocystic odontogenic tumor in relation to adenomatoid odontogenic tumor (p < 0.01), and when the unicystic ameloblastoma and keratocistic odontogenic tumor were compared to the odontogenic myxoma (p < 0.05). Syndrome keratocystic odontogenic tumor showed a higher mean of mast cells when compared with the other tumors of the sample. Mast cells values presented by syndrome keratocystic odontogenic tumor were significantly greater than those of the sporadic keratocystic odontogenic tumor that were not associated with the syndrome (p = 0.03). Mast cells are probably one of the major components of the stromal scaffold in odontogenic tumors. We found significant differences of mast cells between syndrome nonsyndrome keratocystic odontogenic tumors, although their distribution did not seem to have any influence on the biologic behavior of benign odontogenic tumors.
authors: Department of Oral Pathology, Laboratory of Surgical Pathology, School of Dentistry, Federal University of Bahia, Salvador, Bahia, Brazil.
authors: Francisco
authors: F
authors: de Assis Caldas Pereira
authors: Clarissa Araújo Silva
authors: CA
authors: Gurgel
authors: Eduardo Antônio Gonçalves
authors: EA
authors: Ramos
authors: Manuela Torres Andion
authors: MT
authors: Vidal
authors: Antônio Luiz Barbosa
authors: AL
authors: Pinheiro
authors: Vladimir
authors: V
authors: Jurisic
authors: Caroline Brandi Schlaepfer
authors: CB
authors: Sales
authors: Patrícia Ramos
authors: PR
authors: Cury
authors: Jean Nunes
authors: JN
authors: dos Santos
mesh_terms: D000564:Ameloblastoma / Q000473:pathology*; D045744:Cell Line, Tumor; D006801:Humans; D007150:Immunohistochemistry / Q000379:methods; D007249:Inflammation; D007573:Jaw Neoplasms / Q000473:pathology*; D008407:Mast Cells / Q000166:cytology*; D009808:Odontogenic Tumors / Q000473:pathology*