2005 Volume 14 Issue 2 Pages 185-186
Statement of problem: Angiogenic squamous dysplasia (ASD), a qualitative distinct form of angiogenesis, was first described in pre-invasive bronchial mucosa of high-risk individuals. It is characterized histologically by the presence of capillary tufts that are closely juxtaposed to and projecting into the dysplastic bronchial epithelium. Objective: To determine whether ASD occurs in oral epithelial dysplastic lesions. Methods: Sixty cases of potentially malignant oral epithelial lesions comprising 20 mild epithelial dysplasia (ED), 20 moderate ED and 20 severe ED (inclusive of carcinoma-in-situ), and 10 normal oral mucosa (as normal controls) were retrieved from the archives of the Department of Oral Pathology, Oral Medicine & Periodontology, Faculty of Dentistry, University of Malaya, and the Cancer Research Centre, Institute for Medical Research, Kuala Lumpur, Malaysia. The grading of oral ED was in accordance with the recommendations of the World Health Organization. For all selected cases, new 5 micron thick sections were prepared for H&E staining, and for immunohistochemistry with three vascular markers, CD31, CD34 and CD105, with appropriate positive and negative controls. The established criteria for identification of ASD was applied. Results: ASD was identified in parts of severe oral ED, but was absent in normal oral epithelium, mild and moderate oral ED. About 65% of these severe oral ED cases were from individuals with high-risk habits. As with bronchial ASD, the capillaries typically formed CD31- and CD34-positive projections or loops that abut onto the overlying dysplastic oral epithelium causing the latter to assume a papillary surface configuration. Unlike bronchial ASD which occurs in respiratory-type epithelium, oral ASD was found in keratinzed stratified squamous epithelium. CD105 confirmed the presence of neoangiogenesis. Conclusions: Present findings confirm that ASD can occur in oral severe ED. It also demonstrates that this angiogenic abnormality is not unique to bronchial mucosal dysplastic lesions.
