Evaluation of Infiltration of Immunological cells (Tumour Associated Tissue Eosinophils and Mast cells) in Oral Squamous Cell Carcinoma by Using Special Stains

Aim: Our study aimed to evaluate the infiltration of tissue eosinophils and mast cells in oral squamous cell carcinoma (OSCC) by using special stains.
Study Design: Comparative study.
Place of Study: Sharad Pawar Dental College, Sawangi (Meghe), Wardha, Maharashtra.
Methodology: The study was carried out with the sample size of 30 histopathologically diagnosed cases of oral squamous cell carcinoma and comparison of infiltration of these (tissue eosinophil and mast cells) inflammatory cells with control (normal) group of patients, was done by using special stains. Special stains are wonderful because they allow us to see which we cannot see with routine Haematoxylin and eosin stain. Special stains were used to demonstrate tissue eosinophils and mast cells. Carbol Chromotrope and congo red were used for tissue eosinophil and for mast cells staining toluidine blue and thionin were used.
Results: The comparison of infiltration of tissue eosinophil and mast cell in OSCC with control group (normal) of patients shows significantly increased infiltration of these immunological cells in OSCC group of patients (P<0.05). We also found that among special stains carbol chromotrope is better than congo red for demonstration of tissue eosinophils and toluidine blue shows better staining intensity for mast cells than thionin.
Conclusion: We conclude that both inflammatory cells i.e. number of tissue eosinophils and mast cell infiltration is increased in OSCC. Special stains (carbol chromotrope and toluidine blue) are inexpensive and time saving rapid process for microscopic evaluation of infiltration of immunological cells (tissue eosinophil and mast cell) in tumour stroma.