Comparison of Hematoxylin-eosin, Reticulin and Periodic acid†Schiff stains in demonstrating the basement membrane pattern of Oral Squamous Cell Carcinoma

Introduction and Aim: Thickness and pattern changes in malignant epithelial tumors are indicating signs of invasion. Diagnosing the basement membrane changes is a useful tool to determine the invasion especially in small samples. The aim was to compare the Hematoxylin-eosin, Reticulin and Periodic acid–Schiff (PAS) staining in demonstrating the basement membrane changes of Oral Squamous Cell Carcinoma (OSCC).Materials and Methods: The study was descriptive, nonparametric. 3μ sections of fixed paraffin embedded tissue of 11 OSCC and 5 normal mucosa samples were stained with Hematoxylin-eosin, Reticulin and Periodic acid–Schiff .The thickness and pattern of basement membrane were determined under different stains and compared with normal mucosa.Results: In sectioned obtained with different staining, the basement membrane of normal epithelium was extended and constant with 2 μ thickness. The basement membrane in invasive parts of OSCC was indistinct and discontinuous with Hematoxylin-eosin staining. PAS was more precise in demonstrating the basement membrane thickness and pattern. In compare to Hematoxylin-eosin and PAS, the Reticulin stain demonstrated the basement membrane thickness and pattern more precisely.Conclusion: Reticulin in comparing to Hematoxylin-eosin and PAS was more practical stain in demonstrating the basement membrane changes of OSCC.