Biomaterial Database

Ultrastructure of oral leukoplakia and lichen planus. II. A correlated scanning and transmission electron microscopic study of epithelial surface cells. 1987

P Jungell, and M Malmström, and J Wartiovaara, and Y Konttinen

Department of Oral Surgery, University of Helsinki, Finland.

Nine cases of homogenous leukoplakia and 21 cases of lichen planus (11 reticular and 10 erosive) were studied under the scanning and transmission electron microscopes. Characteristic differences between leukoplakia and lichen planus in surface patterns of the epithelial surface cells were noted. Microridges in leukoplakia form parallel and anastomosing rows whereas the picture in lichen planus is irregular with microridges varying in width. The transmission electron microscopic findings confirm and correlate with these findings, the microridges representing invaginations of the plasma membrane. The keratin patterns exhibited by the surface cells were also characteristic regarding type and site of lesion. Scanning electron microscopy can be used as an additional diagnostic aid in differentiating these lesions.

UI	MeSH Term	Description	Entries
D007972	Leukoplakia, Oral	A white patch seen on the oral mucosa. It is considered a premalignant condition and is often tobacco-induced. When evidence of Epstein-Barr virus is present, the condition is called hairy leukoplakia (LEUKOPLAKIA, HAIRY).	Keratosis, Oral,Leukokeratosis, Oral,Keratoses, Oral,Leukokeratoses, Oral,Leukoplakias, Oral,Oral Keratoses,Oral Keratosis,Oral Leukokeratoses,Oral Leukokeratosis,Oral Leukoplakia,Oral Leukoplakias
D008010	Lichen Planus	An inflammatory, pruritic disease of the skin and mucous membranes, which can be either generalized or localized. It is characterized by distinctive purplish, flat-topped papules having a predilection for the trunk and flexor surfaces. The lesions may be discrete or coalesce to form plaques. Histologically, there is a "saw-tooth" pattern of epidermal hyperplasia and vacuolar alteration of the basal layer of the epidermis along with an intense upper dermal inflammatory infiltrate composed predominantly of T-cells. Etiology is unknown.	Cutaneous Lichen Planus,Lichen Planopilaris,Lichen Ruber Planus,Mucosal Lichen Planus,Lichen Rubra Planus,Lichen Planus, Cutaneous,Lichen Planus, Mucosal,Planopilaris, Lichen
D008854	Microscopy, Electron	Microscopy using an electron beam, instead of light, to visualize the sample, thereby allowing much greater magnification. The interactions of ELECTRONS with specimens are used to provide information about the fine structure of that specimen. In TRANSMISSION ELECTRON MICROSCOPY the reactions of the electrons that are transmitted through the specimen are imaged. In SCANNING ELECTRON MICROSCOPY an electron beam falls at a non-normal angle on the specimen and the image is derived from the reactions occurring above the plane of the specimen.	Electron Microscopy
D008855	Microscopy, Electron, Scanning	Microscopy in which the object is examined directly by an electron beam scanning the specimen point-by-point. The image is constructed by detecting the products of specimen interactions that are projected above the plane of the sample, such as backscattered electrons. Although SCANNING TRANSMISSION ELECTRON MICROSCOPY also scans the specimen point by point with the electron beam, the image is constructed by detecting the electrons, or their interaction products that are transmitted through the sample plane, so that is a form of TRANSMISSION ELECTRON MICROSCOPY.	Scanning Electron Microscopy,Electron Scanning Microscopy,Electron Microscopies, Scanning,Electron Microscopy, Scanning,Electron Scanning Microscopies,Microscopies, Electron Scanning,Microscopies, Scanning Electron,Microscopy, Electron Scanning,Microscopy, Scanning Electron,Scanning Electron Microscopies,Scanning Microscopies, Electron,Scanning Microscopy, Electron
D009059	Mouth Diseases	Diseases involving the MOUTH.	Disease, Mouth,Diseases, Mouth,Mouth Disease
D009061	Mouth Mucosa	Lining of the ORAL CAVITY, including mucosa on the GUMS; the PALATE; the LIP; the CHEEK; floor of the mouth; and other structures. The mucosa is generally a nonkeratinized stratified squamous EPITHELIUM covering muscle, bone, or glands but can show varying degree of keratinization at specific locations.	Buccal Mucosa,Oral Mucosa,Mucosa, Mouth,Mucosa, Oral
D004848	Epithelium	The layers of EPITHELIAL CELLS which cover the inner and outer surfaces of the cutaneous, mucus, and serous tissues and glands of the body.	Mesothelium,Epithelial Tissue,Mesothelial Tissue,Epithelial Tissues,Mesothelial Tissues,Tissue, Epithelial,Tissue, Mesothelial,Tissues, Epithelial,Tissues, Mesothelial
D006801	Humans	Members of the species Homo sapiens.	Homo sapiens,Man (Taxonomy),Human,Man, Modern,Modern Man