Human cervical and hamster oral epithelial neoplasia--colposcopic similarities

Epithelial dysplasias and squamous carcinomas were experimentally produced in the cheek pouches of Syrian hamsters. These lesions were observed and photographed in the living animals with the aid of a stereoscopic microscope at magnifications of 20 and 40 times. Very apparent similarities were noted in the vascular patterns and epithelial configurations between the hamster oral dysplasias and carcinomas and the corresponding lesions seen in published cases of cervical intraepithlial neoplasia and invasive squamous carcinoma. It is speculated that these similarities reflect common factors in the interaction between neoplastic squamous epithelium and its blood supply. These findings are important in understanding the biology of cervical neoplasia and may be useful in the diagnosis and management of human oral neoplasia.