Comparison of Morphometric Assessment Using Methyl Green Pyronin and AgNOR Staining of Oral Squamous Cell Carcinoma

Oral cancer represents the sixth most common cancer worldwide whilst in Pakistan it ranks the second most common cancer in either gender. Histologically, over 90% of oral cancer lesions are squamous cell carcinomas which are diagnosed on the basis of histopathological analysis. However, proliferation kinetics and nucleolar status are not clearly delineated by routine H\&E examination; thus making use of various proliferation markers imperative for the purpose. Nuclear organizer regions (AgNORs) are associated with proliferative activity and represents as a diagnostic aid in oral malignancies. Similarly, methyl green pyronin (MGP) stain has also been valuable as a complement in routine histopathological studies of several neoplastic entities. Morphometric techniques offer an opportunity to quantify nuclear changes associated with malignancy and may provide an objective basis for grading the tumors. The present study is planned to analyze the morphometric parameters of the MGP stain in oral squamous cell carcinoma, and in their various histological grades, and to assess if the MGP staining parameters could give information on the aggressiveness of the malignant lesions of oral cavity. Sections from thirty cases of squamous cell carcinoma along with thirty cases of normal oral mucosa will be evaluated for methyl green pyronin (MGP) and AgNOR staining. Morphometric analysis of various MGP staining and AgNOR parameters would be performed using micrometer. Statistical analysis of the results will be carried out using SPSS. Quantitative variables will be expressed as mean ± Standard Deviation. Frequencies and percentages will be given for qualitative variables. It is hypothesized that oral squamous cell carcinoma will exhibit significantly higher MGP staining and AgNOR staining parameters than normal mucosa of the oral cavity.

Sex

All

Inclusion Criteria:

* Specimens of normal epithelium from healthy adult individuals irrespective of age and without habits that predispose to oral cancer
* Cases of clinically and histologically confirmed primary oral squamous cell carcinoma based on WHO criteria

Exclusion Criteria:

* Subjects of oral squamous cell carcinoma with any treatment therapy other than surgical excision.
* Subjects having metastatic tumors and tumors other than in the oral cavity
* Subjects having recurrent tumors.
* Subjects of normal or control group with history of risk / predisposing factors for oral cancer.

• BACKGROUNDMohtasham N, Mahdavi-Shahri N, Salehinejad J, Ejtehadi H, Torabi-Parizi M, Ghazi N. Detection of nucleoproteins in squamous cell carcinoma, and dysplastic and normal mucosa in the oral cavity by methyl green-pyronin staining. J Oral Sci. 2010 Jun;52(2):239-43. doi: 10.2334/josnusd.52.239. PMID 20587947