Mast Cell Density in Oral Lesions using Metachromatic Stains: A Comparative Study

Abstract

Introduction: Mast Cells (MCs) are bone marrow derived granular cells, distributed throughout the body near blood vessels, nerves and subepithelial areas. MC granules stain by basic dyes but are most readily demonstrated by metachromatic dyes such as toluidine blue and azure A. Aim: This study focuses on evaluating and comparing the count of MCs by identification and staining of these cells by azure A with toluidine blue as a control, in normal oral mucosa and in various other oral pathologies. Materials and Methods: Five cases each of Normal Oral Mucosa (NOM), Inflammatory Fibrous Hyperplasia (IFH), Oral Pyogenic Granuloma (OPG), Oral Lichen Planus (OLP) and Oral Squamous Cell Carcinoma (OSCC) were stained with 1% toluidine blue and azure A. Results: Mean MC count was higher in all four lesions when compared to normal oral mucosa with both stains. OLP exhibited the maximum amount of mean MC count when compared to other pathologies under study. With all four lesions, toluidine blue exhibited higher number of MC density (count/high power field) compared to azure A. Conclusion: Higher count of MCs was noticed in all four lesions indicating a possible role of MCs in their pathogenesis either directly or indirectly. Also, the number of degranulated MCs was more in OLP followed by OSCC, IFH and OPG.

Keywords

• Azure A
• Oral cancer
• Oral lichen planus
• Oral pyogenic granuloma
• Toluidine blue