title: Mast cell count in oral reactive lesions: A histochemical study.
abstract: BACKGROUND
  The aim of this study was to quantify the number of mast cells in focal reactive hyperplastic lesions of the oral cavity and to compare these two number of mast cells in normal gingival tissues and to correlate their presence with the state of connective tissue changes in reactive lesions and probably suggest a role for mast cells in these lesions.
  
  
  METHODS
  Patient records were retrieved during a 10 year period from 2001 to 2010. Data of all reactive hyperplasias namely focal fibrous hyperplasia, pyogenic granuloma (PG), peripheral ossifying fibroma (POF) and peripheral giant cell granuloma (PGCG) were reviewed and 10 cases seen in the gingiva were selected for each category and stained with 1% toluidine blue for mast cells. Statistical analysis was applied to see the significant differences between the groups and with the normal gingival tissue. One-way ANOVA-F and unpaired t-test was applied and significant differences were seen between the groups at 5% level of significance.
  
  
  RESULTS
  In this study, mast cell count was maximum in POF and fibrous hyperplasia (FH) followed by cases of PG and PGCG.
  
  
  CONCLUSIONS
  The number of mast cells was more numerous in POF and FH suggesting that mast cell activation is a characteristic feature of chronic inflammation, a condition that may lead to fibrosis as a result of increased collagen synthesis by fibroblasts.
authors.affiliation: Department of Oral Pathology and Microbiology, Subharti Dental College, Meerut, Uttar Pradesh, India.
authors.forename: Vandana
authors.initials: V
authors.lastname: Reddy
authors.affiliation: Department of Oral Pathology and Microbiology, Subharti Dental College, Meerut, Uttar Pradesh, India.
authors.forename: Sundeep S
authors.initials: SS
authors.lastname: Bhagwath
authors.affiliation: Department of Orthodontics, Subharti Dental College, Meerut, Uttar Pradesh, India.
authors.forename: Munish
authors.initials: M
authors.lastname: Reddy
keywords: Fibrous hyperplasia; mast cells; peripheral giant cell granuloma; peripheral ossifying fibroma; pyogenic granuloma; toluidine blue