Abstract: The aim of this study was to analyze and compare the immunohistochemical expression of plasminogen activator system (PAS) proteins (uPA, uPAR, and PAI-1) in ameloblastomas (AMBs), odontogenic keratocysts (OKCs), and dental follicles (DFs) representing normal odontogenic tissue, as well as to investigate possible correlations between these proteins. Twenty AMBs, 20 OKCs, and 10 DFs were selected for immunohistochemical analysis. In each case, the immunoexpression of uPA, uPAR, and PAI-1 was evaluated semiquantitatively based on the percentage of positivity in odontogenic epithelial and connective tissue cells. The epithelial immunoexpression of uPA was significantly lower in AMBs when compared to OKCs (p = 0.001) and DFs (p = 0.029). Significantly higher epithelial immunostaining for uPAR was observed in AMBs when compared to OKCs (p < 0.001). There were no significant differences in the epithelial immunoexpression of PAI-1 between AMBs and OKCs (p = 1.000). The correlations found for the expression of the studied proteins were not statistically significant (p > 0.05). However, the epithelial and connective tissue expressions of uPAR have a strong positive and statistically significant correlation in AMBs. The present results suggest that uPA is involved in the pathogenesis of OKCs and that uPAR may participate in tumorigenesis in AMBs. The high percentage of PAI-1-positive cells suggests a possible role for this protein in the development of AMBs and OKCs. Furthermore, the studied proteins do not seem to act synergistically in AMBs, OKCs, and DFs.

ABSTRACT: The aim of this work was to trace an epidemiological and clinical profile of oral squamous cell carcinoma (SCC) cases diagnosed as lip and tongue SCC from June 2001 to 2018 at a pathology anatomy service located in Northeastern Brazil. Age, sex, duration, location, growth type, staining, metastasis, etiologic agents and lesion size data were obtained fr om patient clinical files and histopathological reports. A total of 124 cases were recorded, with tongue SCC being the most preval ent. The common characteristics of both assessed SCCs included higher frequency in men, mean age of 60 years old, evidence mostly of exophytic lesions and maximum size of 4 cm, predominantly diagnosed after a maximum of 1 year of appearance. Regarding divergent findings, lip SCC occurred mostly in the lower portion of the lip, presenting a predominantly leukoplastic color, with regular smoking habits and sunlight identified as the main etiological agents, and no strong relation to metastasis. On the other hand, tongue SCC mostly exhibiting predominantly erythroleukoplastic staining, with a greater relationship to alcohol - associated smoking and regular smoking habits. The highest percentage of patients with metastasis presented tongue SCC. Although lip and tongue SCC display a male preference, an increasing amount of female involvement has been noted over the years, due to the adoption of deleterious habits such as smoking and alcoholism. Tongue SCC presented a greater relationship with metastasis and clinical leukoeritroplastic evidence. This greater aggressiveness could be related to the unfavorable locat ion of these lesions in relation to lip SCC, sometimes making it difficult to identify in their early development stages.

RESUMEN: El objetivo de este trabajo fue rastrear un perfil epidemiológico y clínico de los casos de carcinoma oral de células escamosas (CCE) diagnosticados como CCE de labios y lengua entre junio de 2001 y 2018 en un servicio de anatomía patológica ubicado en el Noreste de Brasil. Los datos de edad, sexo, duración, ubicación, tipo de crecimiento, tinción, metástasis, agentes etiológicos y tamaño de la lesión se obtuvieron de los archivos clínicos de los pacientes y los informes histopatológicos. Se revisaron un total de 124 casos, siendo el CCE de lengua el más prevalente. Las características comunes de ambos CCE evaluados incluyeron mayor frecuencia en hombres, edad promedio de 60 años, evidencia mayoritariamente de lesiones exofíticas y tamaño máximo de 4 cm, diagnosticado predominantemente después de un máximo de 1 año de aparición. En cuanto a los hallazgos divergentes, el CCE labial se presentó mayoritariamente en la porción inferior del labio, presentando un color predominantemente leucoplásico, con el hábito de fumar habitualmente y la luz solar identificados como los principales agentes etiológicos, sin una fuerte relación con las metástasis. Por otro lado, el CEC de la lengua presenta en su mayoría tinción predominantemente eritroleucoplásica, con una mayor relación con el tabaquismo asociado con el alcohol y con los hábitos habituales de tabaquismo. El mayor porcentaje de pacientes con metástasis presentó CCE de lengua. Aunque el CCE de labios y lengua muestra una preferencia en hombres, se ha observado una cantidad cada vez mayor prevalencia en mujeres a lo largo de los años, debido a la adopción de hábitos nocivos como el tabaquismo y el alcoholismo. El CCE de lengua presentó una mayor relación con la metástasis y la evidencia clínica leucoeritroplásica. Esta mayor agresividad podría estar relacionada con la ubicación desfavorable de estas lesiones en relación al CCE labial, dificultando en ocasiones su identificación en sus primeras etapas de desarrollo.

Resumo O objetivo deste estudo foi realizar uma análise comparativa das imunoexpressões de podoplanina (PDPN) e Twist em carcinomas de células escamosas de lábio inferior e língua oral (CCELI e CCELO, respectivamente). As imunoexpressões de PDPN e Twist foram avaliadas semi-quantitativamente através da análise do front invasivo, das áreas compressivas, das grandes ilhas e ninhos e das células dissociadas dos carcinomas escolhidos. Suas associações estatísticas e correlações com características clínico-patológicas foram verificadas pelos testes de Mann-Whitney e Spearman. A expressão de Twist foi baixa nos dois carcinomas, com marcação <25% no front invasivo. Diferenças significativas foram observadas para CCELI (p=0,032) e CCELO (p=0,025) em relação à imunoexpressão de PDPN em relação aos piores padrões de invasão determinados por um sistema de gradação histológica de malignidade. Também foram observadas correlações negativas estatisticamente significantes entre a expressão membranar de PDPN e as expressões geral (r=-0,356, p=0,024) e citoplasmática do Twist (r=-0,336; p=0,034) no CCELI. Sugere-se que o Twist e o PDPN estejam associados a um padrão de invasão mais agressivo nos casos de CCELI e CCELO, mas não relacionados aos diferentes comportamentos biológicos nesses sítios anatômicos. Também foi observado que a expressão membranar de PDPN está inversamente relacionada à expressão geral e citoplasmática de Twist em casos de CCELI.

Abstract The aim of this study was to perform a comparative analysis of podoplanin (PDPN) and Twist immunoexpressions in lower lip and oral tongue squamous cell carcinomas (LLSCC and OTSCC, respectively). PDPN and Twist immunoexpressions were semi-quantitatively evaluated by analyzing the invasion front, the compressive areas, the large islands and nests and dissociated cells of the chosen carcinomas. Their statistical associations and correlations with clinical-pathological characteristics were verified by the Mann-Whitney and Spearman’s test. Twist expression was low in both carcinomas, with <25% labeling on the invasive front. Significant differences were observed for LLSCC (p=0.032) and OTSCC (p=0.025) regarding PDPN immunoexpression in relation to the worst invasion patterns determined by a histological malignancy gradation system. Statistically significant negative correlations between PDPN membrane expression and general (r=-0.356, p=0.024) and cytoplasmic Twist expressions (r=-0.336; p=0.034) in LLSCC were also observed. Twist and PDPN are suggested to be associated to a more aggressive invasion pattern in both LLSCC and OTSCC cases but not related to the different biological behaviors on these anatomical sites. Also, it was seen that PDPN membrane expression is inversely related to general and cytoplasmic Twist expression in LLSCC cases.

Resumo Artéria labial de calibre persistente (ALCP) consiste em uma parte dilatada do ramo principal da artéria labial que penetra no tecido submucoso sem perda de calibre. O objetivo desse estudo é relatar um caso de uma paciente diagnosticada com ALCP em lábio superior, enfatizando os achados histopatológicos e imuno-histoquímicos incomuns. Paciente de 67 anos, sexo feminino, com queixa de lesão em lábio superior, pulsante, sem sintomatologia dolorosa. Diante do diagnóstico clínico de ALCP, e considerando que a paciente era edêntula e usuária de prótese total, foi realizada biópsia excisional para evitar futuros traumas na região e, consequentemente, sangramento local exuberante. Ao exame anatomopatológico foram visualizadas estruturas sugestivas de folículos linfoides e com formações sugestivas de centros germinativos. No exame imuno-histoquímico observou-se imunopositividade para CD20, CD68, desmina e CD34 e sem imunomarcação para CD4. A paciente relatou não possuir histórico de alergias, doenças cardiovasculares, reumáticas ou sistêmicas que justificassem os achados. O caso apresenta estruturas histopatológicas incomuns, corroborando a necessidade de mais estudos acerca dessa lesão tão pouco discutida na literatura.

Abstract Caliber persistent labial artery (CPLA) consists in a dilated portion of the main branch of the labial artery without loss of size. The aim of this study is to report a case of a patient diagnosed with CPLA in the upper lip, emphasizing unusual histopathological and immunohistochemical findings. A 67-year-old female patient with complaint of a pulsating upper lip lesion without painful symptomatology. Under a clinical diagnosis of CPLA, and considering that the patient was edentulous and used a total prosthesis, an excisional biopsy of the lesion was performed to avoid future traumas in the region and consequently possible exuberant local bleeding. At anatomopathological examination structures suggestive of lymphoid follicles and germinal centers were visualized. Immunohistochemistry showed positivity for CD20, CD68, desmin and CD34 and negativity for CD4. The patient did not have a history of allergies, cardiovascular, rheumatic or systemic diseases that could justified the findings. The case presents unusual histopathological structures, evidencing the necessity of more studies about this pathology so scarce in the literature.