ASSESSING TUMOR MICROENVIRONMENT OF ORAL EPITHELIAL DYSPLASIA AND ORAL SQUAMOUS CELL CARCINOMA IN ORAL SUBMUCOUS FIBROSIS USING MASSON’S TRICHROME

Background: Oral submucous fibrosis (OSMF) is a chronic, progressive disease that affects both epithelial and
connective tissue structures. Grading according to various histological parameters which include the epithelial and the
connective tissue features can be demonstrated in routine hematoxylin and eosin stains(H&E). However, the use of
special stains ensures better visualization which aids in early diagnosis of these connective tissue changes which
includes microenvironmental changes and epithelial mesenchymal transition especially in advanced OSMF cases. The
present study aims to compare the micro environmental changes and epithelial mesenchymal transition by evaluation
of muscle involvement and degeneration in cases with advanced oral submucous fibrosis using Masson’s trichrome
Methods: Grouping: Group 1: OED with OSMF (5 cases) Group 2: OSCC with OSMF (5 cases) Total 10 cases were
taken and stained with both H&E staining and Masson’s trichrome stain. This helps in assessing tumor
microenvironment of oral epithelial dysplasia and oral squamous cell carcinoma in Oral submucous fibrosis using
Masson’s trichrome.
Results: This study shows higher amounts of inflammation in OSMF with the OSCC group, as it can be easily
differentiated and helps in identifying malignant transformation. Among the two groups, oral epithelial dysplasia with
Oral submucous fibrosis shows more fibrosis extension into the muscle.
Conclusion: The questionable areas of degenerating muscle bundles or areas of hyalinization were better
distinguished with Masson’s stain, especially in deeper connective tissue and was statistically significant. The purpose
of this study is to identify potentially malignant diseases from malignant transformation of dysplasia and helps to
study how collagen deposition can affect oral squamous cell carcinoma.