Abstract:
OBJECTIVE. To describe an unusual variant of oral epithelial dysplasia and to provide an appraisal of its immunohistochemical
profile.
STUDY DESIGN. An unusual form of epithelial dysplasia, which we have termed adenoid dysplasia, was evaluated for staining of
cytokeratins AE1/AE3, vimentin, E-cadherin, and b-catenin. The immunohistochemical results were compared with those
observed in moderate epithelial dysplasia, moderately differentiated squamous cell carcinoma, and acantholytic squamous
cell carcinoma.
RESULTS. The immunoprofile of adenoid dysplasia was similar to that of acantholytic squamous cell carcinoma. Cytokeratin
positivity within the acantholytic dysplastic cells confirmed their epithelial nature, and upregulation of vimentin was
suggestive of epithelial-mesenchymal transition. The most distinctive finding was a loss of E-cadherin expression within the
discohesive cells, accompanied by increased cytosolic expression of b-catenin.
CONCLUSIONS. This report presents the histomorphologic features of a unique form of oral epithelial dysplasia, termed adenoid
dysplasia.
