[An histologic and histochemical study of arteries in the stroma of oral squamous cell carcinoma].

Abstract

A microscopical study of 175 oral squamous cell carcinomas demonstrated that 12% of the tumors showed small arteries in their stroma. The arteries occurred most frequently around the infiltrative border of the tumors. Focal intimal thickening was a common feature, while duplication of the internal elastic lamina or obliteration of the lumen appeared more rarely. The intimal thickenings consisted mainly of glycosaminoglycans, a fact supporting the hypothesis that they represented early atherosclerotic lesions. On the contrary, the duplication of the elastic lamina could be attributed to age-related changes. The complete closure of the lumen was brought about by a tissue rich in sulphated glycosaminoglycans; the uncertain pathogenetic mechanisms of endarteritis obliterans probably accounted for the development of this tissue.