ABSTRACT
INTRODUCTION: Oral Squamous cell carcinoma (OSCC) is the 11th most common cancer worldwide. Tumor stroma consists of various inflammatory cells resulting from the host-response to tumor cell. Increased tissue eosinophil levels have been reported in various malignancies including OSCC. Tissue eosinophilia is a regular finding in allergic and parasitic disorders, but their role still needs to be evaluated in OSCCs. Specific stains as Congo red is a useful diagnostic means for detecting eosinophils owing to their distinctive quality to combine with eosinophils.
OBJECTIVES: was to evaluate and compare eosinophilic infiltration in both metastatic and non-metastatic oral squamous cell carcinoma using Congo red stain and their correlation to the tumor grade.
MATERIAL AND METHODS: Fifty histopathologically proven OSCC were included in this study and were allocated into 2 groups where the first group included 25 cases of metastatic OSCC and the remaining 25 cases are non-metastatic OSCC. Congo red was utilized as a distinct stain for eosinophils. Each specimen slide was inspected under high power in 10 successive microscopic fields to count eosinophils.
RESULTS: the eosinophilic count was found to be higher in non-metastatic tumors when compared to metastatic tumors.
CONCLUSION: eosinophilic count is a strong indicator of the stage of the tumor and its differentiation.
KEY WORDS: Carcinoma, Congo Red, Eosinophils, Eosinophilia, Mouth Neoplasms, Squamous Cell.