Microstructure of the Epithelial Cells of the Oral Mucosa After Radiotherapy

Objectives: The microplicae structure (MPLs) is typical of the epithelial surface of the oral mucosa. The cell surface is of potentially great significance, as it harbours many markers for refined prognosis and targets for oral cancer therapy. Therefore, the aim of this study is to investigate whether radiation therapy affects the surface morphology of the superficial cells of the human oral mucosa with patients who have received radiation therapy for oral cancer. The results are described qualitatively and quantitatively.
Methods: The sample tissues were collected from 54 patients during implant surgery; 11 patients have received radiation therapy for oral cancer, 11 oral cancer patients without radiotherapy and 32 healthy controls. The samples were studied with scanning electron microscopy (SEM) and quantitative pixel region analysis was made with the ImageJ image analysis software. The SEM micrographs were compared with transmission electron (TEM) micrographs.
Results: Radiation therapy induces breakage and destruction in the morphology and declines the density of the MPL surface structures of superficial oral epithelial cells. From some of the radiated cells the MPL were completely vanished. However, radiation therapy surprisingly seems to affect the MPL structure and density less negatively than oral cancer itself.


Conclusions: Radiation therapy causes decline in the frequency and degeneration of cell surface structures, but seems to improve the morphology of MPL in cancerous cells