Immunohistochemical Analysis of E-Cadherin Expression in Pleomorphic Adenoma and Mucoepidermoid Carcinoma of Salivary Glands

Objective: E-cadherin is a classic cadherin that plays a key role in epithelial cell adhesion. This protein is being referred to as the suppressor of proliferation and invasion. Limited studies have investigated E-cadherin expression in salivary gland neoplasms. This study sought to assess the expression of E-cadherin and its possible role in progression and invasion of salivary gland neoplasms.Methods: In this retrospective cross-sectional study, 15 samples of pleomorphic adenoma (PA)   and9 samples of mucoepidermoid carcinoma (MEC) were immunohistochemically stained for  evaluation of E-cadherin expression. Degree of staining was calculated as the percentage of positively stained cell membranes out of a minimum of 1000 neoplastic cells.Results: In normal salivary gland specimens, intense membrane staining was observed around the acinar mucous and serous cells as well as the ductal cells. Myoepithelial cells were negative. In PA, intense staining was noted along the membrane of attached cells forming the ducts, islands, cellular cords and cellular sheets but the stromal myoepithelial cells were negative. In MEC, epidermoid and intermediate cells showed intense membrane staining. Mucous cells also showed membrane staining. After statistical analysis, the percentage of positive cells was found to be 82.56±11.66 and 67.4±7.24 in MEC and PA, respectively. This difference was not statistically significant (P>0.05).Conclusion: E-cadherin expression was not a suitable marker for differentiation of PA from MEC. It was only correlated with cell phenotype

Multifocal Primary Non- Hodgkin’s Lymphoma of the Oral Cavity: Report of Three Cases and Review of the Literature

Objective: Oral non- Hodgkin’s lymphoma (NHL) is a relatively rare neoplasm that may develop in the soft tissues or jaw bones, with or without node or marrow involvement. Oral lymphomas  are often difficult to diagnose as there are no characteristic clinical features and usually appear as non- tender swellings.Case: We describe clinical, radiographic, histopathological and immunohistochemical findings of three cases of multifocal NHLs presenting in the oral cavity.Conclusion: If the oral lesion is multifocal, extra nodal lymphoma must be considered in the differential diagnosis