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Granular cells in oral lichen planus
Author(s) -
Van Der Meij EH,
Van Der Waal I
Publication year - 2001
Publication title -
oral diseases
Language(s) - English
Resource type - Journals
SCImago Journal Rank - 0.953
H-Index - 87
eISSN - 1601-0825
pISSN - 1354-523X
DOI - 10.1034/j.1601-0825.2001.70209.x
Subject(s) - oral lichen planus , granular cell , pathology , connective tissue , oral mucosa , granular cell tumor , chemistry , biology , medicine , immunohistochemistry , central nervous system
OBJECTIVE AND DESIGN: Three cases of granular cells associated with oral lichen planus (OLP) have been reported to date, which prompted us to look for the presence of granular cells in a consecutive series of 250 cases of OLP in the period 1996–1998. RESULTS: Only one case with granular cell changes was encountered in that series. H&E stained slides as well as direct immunofluorescence examination showed characteristics compatible with OLP. Part of the subepithelial connective tissue was replaced by a granular cell proliferation; S‐100 protein was diffusely expressed in all granular cells, whereas no expression of smooth muscle actin was observed. CONCLUSION: Based on these findings it seems unlikely that the granular cells in the present case represent a so‐called ‘oral ceroid granuloma’. The presence of granular cells might rather have been a reactive phenomenon triggered by the inflammatory infiltrate or a granular cell tumour (GCT). Whether the simultaneous presence of a GCT and OLP in this particular case was based on a causal relationship or on coincidence still remains unknown.