Mast Cells in Odontogenic Cysts
2226-2236
Correspondence
Dr. Sanjeevareddigari Shylaja
MIG-276, 4th road, KPHB Colony, Kukatpally, Hyderabad-500072(INDIA)
Phone No. - 09441023999
Email id: eshwardental@rediffmail.com
Background: Cysts of the jaws are probably the most common destructive bone lesions in the human maxillofacial skeleton. Odontogenic cysts are derived from the epithelium which is associated with the development of the dental apparatus and can be either developmental or inflammatory in origin. The most common odontogenic cysts are radicular cysts, dentigerous cysts and odontogenic keratocysts. However, the cysts of developmental origin may show inflammatory changes secondary to infection. Mast cell degranulation plays an important role in the inflammatory response and it is speculated that alteration in their number and distribution could contribute to the pathogenesis of odontogenic cysts. So, an attempt was made to evaluate the significance and distribution of mast cells in radicular cyst, odontogenic keratocyst and dentigerous cyst using toluidine blue staining.
Materials and Methods: This retrospective study was undertaken by retrieving the records and the paraffin blocks of 40 confirmed cases of odontogenic cysts, out of which 19 were Radicular cysts, 12 were odontogenic keratocysts and 9 were dentigerous cysts.
Sections of 5µm thickness were prepared and stained with haematoxylin and eosin, as well as with toluidine blue. The toluidine blue stained mast cells were then counted under a high power microscopic field (40X) for each specimen in three different zones and the mean value obtained. The mean number of mast cells was then compared between different zones by using the Relative Deviate ‘Z’ test.
Results: In cases of radicular cyst, the highest mean number of mast cells per high power field was seen in the age group of 10-19 years. A statistically significant difference (p<0.05) amongst the distribution of mast cells was noted between the sub-epithelial and the deep zones. In cases of odontogenic keratocyst, the highest mean number of mast cells per high power field was seen in the age group of 20-29 years. A statistically significant difference (p<0.01) amongst the distribution of mast cells was noted between the sub-epithelial and the deep zones, as well as between the sub-epithelial and the intermediate zones. In cases of dentigerous cyst, the highest mean number of mast cells per high power field was seen in the age group of 10-19 years. A statistically significant difference (p<0.05) amongst the distribution of mast cells was noted between the sub-epithelial and the deep zones.
Conclusion: In the present study, the maximum number of mast cells were noted in the sub-epithelial zone as compared to other zones. The number of mast cells were seen to decrease with age and there was no gender predilection. However, further studies using immunohistochemical techniques may help in the better understanding of the pathogenesis of these cysts.