title: Evaluation of mast cells, eosinophils, blood capillaries in oral lichen planus and oral lichenoid mucositis.
abstract: BACKGROUND
  Mast cells are granule containing secretory cells present in oral mucosal and connective tissue environment. Oral lichen planus and oral lichenoid lesions are commonly occurring oral diseases and have some similarity clinically and histologically. Both are characterized by an extensive sub epithelial infiltrate of T cells, together with mast cells, eosinophils and blood capillaries. In this study mast cell and eosinophil densities along with number of blood capillaries were studied to find out if they could aid in histopathological distinction between oral lichen planus and lichenoid mucositis.
  
  
  OBJECTIVE
  To enumerate mast cells and compare the status of Mast Cells (Intact or Degranulated) in Lichen planus, Lichenoid mucositis and normal buccal mucosa in tissue sections stained with Toluidine Blue, and also to enumerate Eosinophils and blood capillaries in tissue sections stained with H and E.
  
  
  METHODS
  The study group included 30 cases each of oral lichen planus and oral lichenoid mucositis. 10 cases of clinically normal oral buccal mucosa formed the control group. All the sections were stained with Toluidine blue and H and E separately. Histopathological analysis was done using binocular light microscope equipped with square ocular grid to standardize the field of evaluation.
  
  
  RESULTS
  The result of the study showed. · Significant increase in number of mast cells in oral lichen planus and oral lichenoid mucositis compared to normal buccal mucosa. · Significant increase of intact mast cells suepithelially within the inflammatory cell infiltrate in oral lichen planus compared to oral lichenoid mucositis. · Significant increase of degranulated mast cells in oral lichenoid mucositis to oral lichen planus, and increase in number of eosinophil densities in oral lichenoid mucositis compared to oral lichen planus. · Significant increase in number of capillaries in oral lichenoid mucositis compared to oral lichen planus.
  
  
  CONCLUSIONS
  The findings of increased number of intact mast cells sub epithelially in oral lichen planus to oral lichenoid mucositis and increase in number of degranulated mast cells as well as capillaries subepithelially in oral lichenoid mucositis to oral lichen planus can be used as reliable criteria for histologic distinction between these two lesions. The increase of eosinophils in oral lichenoid mucositis to oral lichen planus could be used as adjunct histologic criterion in the diagnosis of oral lichenoid mucositis.
authors: Department of Oral Pathology and Microbiology, Saraswathi Dhanawantari Dental College and Hospital, Pathri Road, Parbhani, Maharashtra, India.
authors: D Santhosh
authors: DS
authors: Reddy
authors: B
authors: B
authors: Sivapathasundharam
authors: T R
authors: TR
authors: Saraswathi
authors: G
authors: G
authors: SriRam
mesh_terms: D002196:Capillaries / Q000473:pathology*; D002452:Cell Count; D015550:Cell Degranulation / Q000502:physiology; D002467:Cell Nucleus / Q000648:ultrastructure; D004396:Coloring Agents; D003238:Connective Tissue / Q000098:blood supply / Q000473:pathology; D003594:Cytoplasmic Granules / Q000648:ultrastructure; D003937:Diagnosis, Differential; D004801:Eosine Yellowish-(YS); D004804:Eosinophils / Q000473:pathology*; D004848:Epithelium / Q000098:blood supply / Q000473:pathology; D005456:Fluorescent Dyes; D006416:Hematoxylin; D006801:Humans; D017676:Lichen Planus, Oral / Q000473:pathology*; D017512:Lichenoid Eruptions / Q000473:pathology*; D008407:Mast Cells / Q000473:pathology*; D009061:Mouth Mucosa / Q000098:blood supply / Q000473:pathology; D013280:Stomatitis / Q000473:pathology*; D014048:Tolonium Chloride
chemical_list: D004396:Coloring Agents; D005456:Fluorescent Dyes; D014048:Tolonium Chloride; D004801:Eosine Yellowish-(YS); D006416:Hematoxylin