Evaluation of basal layer cells in normal epithelium, precancerous lesions and squamous cell carcinoma

Abstract

Quantitative microscopical techniques allow us to get specific information in the evaluation of microscopic parameters. These techniques can be used in morphological studies in injuries with potential malignant transformation, acting as an important prognostic marker. The aim of this study was, through a morphometric analysis, to evaluate the basal layer cell's nuclear area in precancerous lesions with of diagnosis hystopathological hiperceratosis and acantosis. The normal epithelium and epidermoid carcinoma were used as control . For this research, 10 cases with hiperceratosis and acanthosis hystopathological diagnosis were selected, and 10 cases with squamous cell carcinoma hystopathological diagnosis already registered in the Oral Pathology Laboratory at Dentistry School of UFRGS. 3 microscopic fields were randomly selected in the slides of hiperceratosis and acanthosis; 3 microscopic fields in the adjacent normal epithelium tumor area, and 3 microscopic fields in the central area of the tumor. The basal cell's nuclear area was measured through a computarized system of processing and analysis of images (IMAGELAB®). The results received by the ANOVA test showed the precancerous lesions and normal epithelium nuclear area did not differ statistically. It was also observed that the nuclear area in the squamous cell carcinoma group is greater that in the other groups. This indicates that the techniques of morphologic quantification did present the prognostic value established in our study.