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Published on: May 10, 2021
Myofibroblastic lesions in the oral cavity: Immunohistochemical and ultrastructural analysis
Denise Hélen Imaculada Pereira de Oliveira1, Éricka Janine Dantas da Silveira2, Lélia Batista de Souza2
1Federal University of Ceará, Sobral, Brazil.
Objective:
To immunohistochemically characterize a group of oral myofibroblastic lesions (MLs) and to evaluate the ultrastructural features of myofibroblasts.
Material And Methods:
Using a tissue microarray technique (TMA), cases of myofibroma (MF), of nodular fasciitis (NF), of desmoplastic fibroma (DF), and of myofibroblastic sarcoma (MS) from the Universidad Autónoma Metropolitana Xochimilco, and a Private Oral Pathology Service in Mexico City were stained with antibodies against alpha-smooth muscle actin (α-SMA), H-caldesmon, vimentin, desmin, β-catenin, CD34, anaplastic lymphoma protein kinase (ALK-1), and Ki-67.
Results:
Nineteen of the 22 MF cases, 2/5 of the NF cases, 1/10 of the DF cases, and 1/2 of the MS cases were positive for α-SMA. 1/2 of the MS cases were positive for desmin; 6/10 of the DF cases were positive for β-catenin, and 2 of the MF cases were positive for ALK-1. All of the MLs were positive for vimentin and negative for H-caldesmon and CD-34. The Ki-67 labeling index in all of the 8/22 MF, 3/5 NF, and 2/2 MS cases was ≥10%. For all of the MLs evaluated, ultrastructural analysis revealed spindle-shaped cells containing endoplasmic reticulum and peripheral actin filament bundles.
Conclusion:
In certain myofibroblastic lesions, the use of auxiliary techniques (such as immunohistochemistry) can be critical for differential diagnosis.
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