Middle ear mucosa in cleft palate children. A scanning electron microscopic study

Area of Science:

• Otorhinolaryngology
• Pathology
• Microscopy

Background:

• Cleft palate is a congenital condition affecting facial structures.
• The promontory mucosa's microscopic features in cleft palate patients are not well-characterized.
• Understanding mucosal changes may offer insights into associated pathologies.

Purpose of the Study:

• To investigate the ultrastructural morphology of the promontory mucosa in children with cleft palate.
• To compare findings using scanning electron microscopy (SEM), light microscopy (LM), and transmission electron microscopy (TEM).

Main Methods:

• Collected 23 promontory mucosal specimens from cleft palate children.
• Utilized SEM, LM, and TEM for comparative ultrastructural analysis.
• Examined mucosal lining, cell types, and submucosal characteristics.

Main Results:

• The mucosal lining was predominantly pseudostratified columnar with abundant microvilli.
• Ciliated cells with secretory granules and numerous goblet cells were observed.
• Common findings included microvilli with bulging tips and cilia with microknobs.
• The submucosa exhibited inflammation with leukocytes, macrophages, plasma cells, and lymphocytes.

Conclusions:

• The promontory mucosa in cleft palate children displays distinct ultrastructural features.
• Inflammation in the submucosa suggests active cellular and humoral immune defense mechanisms.
• These findings contribute to the understanding of mucosal pathology in cleft palate.