Evaluation of Feulgen, Crystal Violet and Mallory’s PTAH Stains in Assessment of Mitotic Figures in 3 Grades of Oral Squamous Cell Carcinoma

摘要

Introduction: Oral squamous cell carcinoma (OSCC) represents the most frequent of all oral neoplasms. Carcinogenesis isthe result of genetic alterations in nuclear DNA, which is evident as deregulated mitosis and nucleoli numbers. Increased andabnormal mitotic figures are a crucial factor in grades of OSCC. Other than the routinely used stains, several other special stainsis used to appreciate mitotic figures (MF).Aims: This study was aimed to observe and compare mitotic figures in tissue sections of oral squamous cell carcinoma stainedwith Feulgen, 1% Crystal violet and Mallory’s PTAH, to evaluate the efficacy of these stains in three different grades of oralsquamous cell carcinoma and to search for a simple, cost effective and most effective staining technique to study mitotic cells.Materials & methods: 20 archival samples each of well, moderate and poorly differentiated carcinoma was taken. Three sectionsof 4 μm thickness from each block was stained with Feulgen staining method and another section was stained with 1%Crystal violet stain, and Mallory’s PTAH stain respectively. After mounting, the slides were observed for mitotic figures and averagenumber of mitotic figures were counted under the same magnification for all the slides.Results: Feulgen gave the best staining result, followed by Mallory’s PTAH and Crystal violet. Total number of mitotic figuresshowed an increase with each grade of OSCC.Conclusion: Feulgen was the most reliable, cost effective, easy and the most feasible staining technique to stain mitotic figures.