Ultrastructural studies of jaw lymphomas and apoptosis

Research on ultrastructural cytopathological changes and apoptosis that occur in jaw lymphoma were done by using electron microscopy and ground sections. The author described this tumor in 1977-1978 as a highly malignant and lethal condition affecting children between 2 and 8 years (mean age 5 years). A duration of illness between 2 and 3 weeks is common and with a general condition of severe toxicity, anemia, and high body temperature. Clinical and pathological features of 24 children with jaw lymphoma seen in the Maxillofacial Unit, Surgical Specialized Hospital, Medical city, Baghdad, are described. Thirteen males and 11 females were included, with a death rate at 91.1%. The morphological characteristics were examined by ground sections. Lymphoblastic lymphoma features were observed and apoptotic changes were seen in some of the cells. Electron microscopy showed a high number of mitotic figures and lymphoblast transformation to plasma cells with high nucleo-cytoplasmic ratio. Some cells had double nuclei and some nuclei were more convoluted. Apoptotic changes were seen in some cells; chromatin clumps aggregated near the nuclear membrane. Cytoplasmic processes and mitochondria showing degeneration and virus-like particles were seen in both nuclei and cytoplasm. The presence of a high mitotic figure with active oncogenic virus growth and reduced apoptosis is a poor prognostic feature in jaw lymphoma.