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Background: Oral submucous fibrosis (OSMF) is a potentially malignant disorder associated with habit of chewing betel quid containing arecanut. Morphological features of OSMF especially fibrosis suggests a possibility of the hypoxic environment in diseased tissues. The adaptation of cells to hypoxia appears to be mediated via hypoxia inducible factor-1α (HIF-1α) which is also said to be associated with malignant transformation of epithelial cells in various other carcinomas like prostate and cervical carcinoma. Therefore, the main objective of this study was to investigate the role of HIF-1α in progression and malignant transformation of OSMF. Materials and Methods: The study group consisted of histo-pathologically diagnosed 30 cases of oral submucous fibrosis and 10 cases of OSCC were taken as control. The immunohistochemistry was carried out on neutral buffered formalin-fixed paraffin-embedded tissue sections by using the monoclonal antibody of HIF-1α. Statistical analysis was done using SPSS software version 2.0. Results: A gradual and significant rise in the expression of HIF-1α was observed in various grades of OSMF and OSCC cases. HIF 1α expression was increased in cases showing hylanization and constricted blood vessels. A cut off value of 39.6% of HIF-1α positive cells was determined statistically to categorize the cases into high risk and low risk group for malignant transformation. Conclusion: Overexpression of HIF-1α may contribute to the progression and malignant transformation of OSMF. Cases expressing more than 40% of HIF-1α positive cells are at a greater risk for malignant transformation.

Melanoma of the oral cavity is a rare malignant disease. On account of the presence at relatively obscure areas in the oral cavity, most of oral malignant melanomas are diagnosed at a late stage. Early diagnosis is essential for successful treatment and perhaps is the key factor in improving the prognosis of oral malignant melanoma. However, no large clinical series exist, and in fact, clinical cases are the sole key source of information. We hereby present a series of four cases of primary oral malignant melanoma of South-East Asian ethnic origin, with long-term, regular follow-up. The age of the patients ranged between 40 and 70 years, with equal sex predilection, and the gingiva was found to be the most common site of its occurrence. Based on clinical and histological parameters, all the cases were diagnosed as primary malignant melanoma, which were further confirmed by using immunohistochemical markers.

Devi C Shetty1, Aadithya B Urs1, Puneet Ahuja2, Harish C Rai1, Seema Sikka1, Anshuta Sahu1, Yuthicka Sirohi11Department of Oral and Maxillofacial Pathology and Microbiology, I.T.S-CDSR, Muradnagar, Ghaziabad, Uttar Pradesh, India; 2ITS Dental College, Greater Noida, Uttar Pradesh, IndiaAbstract: Peripheral ossifying fibroma (POF) is a reactive gingival lesion exhibiting a diverse spectrum of histopathology, accounting for 9.6% of gingival lesions. This study encompasses a detailed clinical, radiographic, and histopathological analysis of 15 cases of POF, retrieved from departmental archives. The following cases were subsequently stained with a histochemical stain (van Gieson) and observed under a polarizing microscope. This study is an effort to analyze the diverse spectrum of mineralized components and their surrounding tissues. Clinically, the study revealed a female predilection (73%) with the second and third decade commonly affected. The most common site was interdental papilla of anterior region, presenting itself as pink and sessile nodular mass. Radiographic examination revealed 93% of the cases showing no manifestation on the radiograph. Histopathological analysis showed 73% of the cases exhibited a fibrocellular connective tissue stroma with plump fibroblasts around the mineralized areas. The collagen was predominantly mature. Polarizing microscopy of the mineralized tissue revealed that 53% of the cases showed only woven bone, 20% showed combination of lamellar bone and cellular cementum, 13.3% showed only cementum (cellular and acellular) with another 13.3% showing mixture of woven and lamellar bone. Thus, the concept/theory that POF develops from cells of PDL/periosteum is emphasized. The undifferentiated mesenchymal cells have an inherent proliferative potential and can form bone or cementum, whose nature can be confirmed by polarizing microscope. This origin from periodontal ligament can also account for the high recurrence rate seen in POF.Keywords: histogenesis, mineralized masses, polarizing microscopy