Correlation between Mast Cell Counts and Microvessel Density in Peripheral Giant Cell Granuloma of the Oral Cavity

The definitive role of mast cells and angiogenesis in the pathogenesis of Peripheral giant cell granuloma (PGCG) of the oral cavity is not yet fully understood. The aim of this study was to evaluate the mast cell counts (MCs) and microvascular density (MVD) and investigating the relationship between them and PGCG of the oral cavity.

In this descriptive-analytic study, 50 samples were selected from the archieve of oral pathology department in dental school at Zahedan University of Medical Sciences using census. The samples included 40 PGCG and 10 normal oral tissues that were stained by immunohistochemistry (CD31 antibody) and toluidine blue to identify MVD and MCs, respectively. Data were analyzed using T-test, Pearson correlation test in SPSS V.21.

The mean number of mast cells was 38.51±36.43 in PGCG and 14±3.21 in normal tissues indicating significant difference between the two groups (P= 0.041). Findings showed a significant difference in MVD between PGCG group (93.34±64.43) and normal tissues (41.9±16.7) (P=0.017). MVD and MCs below the epithelium were found to be higher compared with those in deeper area of connective tissue. No correlation was found between the MCs and MVD (r=0.003, P=0.982).

In the present study, mast cells count and microvascular density were higher in PGCG than normal tissue which could explain the role of mast cells and the subsequent process of angiogenesis in the pathogenesis of this reactive lesion of the oral cavity, but no correlation was found between the mast cells count and microvascular density.