Background: Head and neck squamous cell carcinoma (HNSCC) shows wide variation in clinical behavior and outcome, and regional risk factors contribute to that variation. Local clinicopathological data are therefore needed before management strategies can be matched to the population being served. Aims: To analyze tumor characteristics, staging patterns, treatment modalities, and survival outcomes in a cohort of HNSCC patients from Baghdad, Iraq. Methods: We conducted a retrospective analysis of 40 HNSCC patients diagnosed between 2018-2022. Comprehensive data collection included demographics, tumor characteristics, TNM staging (AJCC 8th ed.), histopathological features, treatment modalities, and survival outcomes. Statistical analysis was performed using Kaplan-Meier survival curves, logistic regression, and correlation analysis. Results: The mean patient age was 62.98 years (range: 43-85), with a male predominance (80%). Laryngeal tumors were most prevalent (42.5%). Patients typically presented with large tumors (mean size: 6.94 cm) and aggressive histopathological features, including high rates of lymphovascular invasion (77.5%) and perineural invasion (47.5%). Advanced disease (Stage IV) was present in 50% of cases at diagnosis. Combined multimodal therapy was the most common treatment approach (57.1%). Survival showed a strong negative correlation with tumor stage (p < 0.0001), with Stage IV patients having a median survival of 0.67 years compared to over 4 years for early-stage disease. Conclusion: HNSCC in this Baghdad-based series was usually diagnosed late and showed biologically aggressive features, with correspondingly poor survival. Stage at diagnosis was the dominant prognostic factor. Earlier detection and locally relevant public-health measures targeting the risk profile of the region are needed.

Cherubism is a rare, benign, autosomal dominant disorder characterized by bilateral painless expansion of the mandible and maxilla. It is a giant cell-rich jaw lesion associated with mutations in the SH3BP2 gene, leading to abnormal osteoclast activation and bone remodeling. Cherubism typically presents in early childhood and follows a self-limiting course; however, it resembles other giant cell-rich and fibro-osseous lesions radiographically and histopathologically. We report a pediatric case of cherubism followed for 6 years, emphasizing the indolent nature and importance of prolonged clinical and radiographic surveillance. Owing to its similarity to other jaw lesions, an integrative diagnostic approach incorporating histopathologic examination, imaging, and biochemical evaluation is essential for accurate differentiation. As conservative management is often sufficient, surgical intervention should be limited to cases demonstrating functional or aesthetic impairment. Our case highlights the importance of early diagnosis, particularly in sporadic presentations, to facilitate appropriate follow-up and minimize unnecessary interventions.

BACKGROUND:Central and peripheral giant cell granulomas are pathologic lesions of the jaws with similar histopathologic features but with different biological behaviors. Clinically, peripheral giant cell granuloma has a low recurrence rate and mainly originated as a benign lesion, which is possibly related to a local irritant factor, while central giant cell granuloma is an expansile osteolytic lesion, which is more aggressive and variable, ranging from an asymptomatic, slow-growing lesion to a painful, rapidly growing, and highly recurrence lesion. METHODS:This retrospective study included 30 cases of central giant cell granuloma and 35 cases of peripheral giant cell granuloma to compare the expressions of KI-67, fibronectin, α-SMA, cathepsin D, CD163, and CSF-1R in multinucleated giant cells and mononuclear stromal cells. This study further evaluates immunohistochemical differences between recurrent and nonrecurrent groups of the studied cases, which had been followed up during the period (2018-2024). RESULTS:This study exhibited significantly higher expressions of all studied markers in central lesions than in peripheral lesions and there were strong correlations among them. In addition, recurrent lesions revealed significantly higher expressions of the studied markers than nonrecurrent lesions. CONCLUSION:CGCG displays a distinct immunophenotypic profile characterized by enhanced proliferation potential, ECM remodeling, activated stromal myofibroblasts, increased osteoclastic activity and M2 macrophage polarization, compared with PGCG. Strong correlations among the studied markers suggest that CGCG's aggressive clinical behavior and recurrence tendency are driven by a combined macrophage-osteoclast-stroma-ECM network. In addition, recurrent lesions showed significantly higher expressions than nonrecurrent lesions, indicating that changes in the lesion microenvironment, rather than specific molecular events.

Objectives: Giant cell fibroma (GCF) is a rare oral mucosal lesion characterized by the presence of giant and stellate cells within its fibrous stroma. This study aimed to investigate the cellular origin and immunophenotypic profile of GCF, with particular emphasis on evaluating histiocytic and possible neural differentiation using vimentin, CD163, and nerve growth factor receptor (p75NTR). Material and methods: A total of 61 paraffin-embedded tissue sections of GCF were obtained from the archives at the College of Dentistry, University of Baghdad between 2010-2024 and stained immunohistochemically for vimentin, CD163, and p75NTR. Results: Vimentin and CD163 showed strong positivity in stromal and giant cells, with an average of 73.75% and 59.2%, respectively. However, a cytoplasmic staining of p75NTR was observed in all patients without membranous reactivity. Conclusion: The findings suggest a fibro-histiocytic origin of GCF with limited evidence of neural differentiation, which requires further investigation

Background/Objectives: Granulomatous lesions of the head and neck arise from diverse infectious and non-infectious causes, with tuberculosis (TB) being a predominant etiology. This retrospective study analyzed 42 cases from the archives of university of Baghdad, College of Dentistry (1975–2025). This study aimed to characterize the clinicopathological features of these lesions and to assess the diagnostic performance of histochemical stains and real-time PCR in identifying infectious etiologies—particularly Mycobacterium tuberculosis—in formalin-fixed, paraffin-embedded (FFPE) tissue samples. Methods: Definitive diagnoses included 25 TB cases confirmed through clinical, microbiological, and therapeutic follow-up at the Baghdad Tuberculosis Institute, and 17 non-TB cases classified by predefined clinicopathological criteria supported by relevant clinical data. Zieh–Neelsen (ZN), Periodic acid–Schiff (PAS), and Grocott methenamine silver (GMS) stains were employed to identify acid-fast bacilli and fungal organisms. Statistical analysis was performed using SPSS version 26, with significance set at p ≤ 0.05. Results: The mean patient age was 36.28 years (SD = 20.6), with a female predominance (59.5%). Necrotizing granulomas were identified in 69% of cases and were strongly associated with tuberculosis, which was detected in 59.5% of specimens. ZN staining showed a sensitivity of 16.7% for tuberculosis, while PCR sensitivity was highly dependent on sample age. The detection rate was 33.3% in samples archived for less than 10 years but only 10% in older samples, resulting in an overall sensitivity of 24.0% for tuberculous cases. Langhans-type giant cells were significantly more frequent in necrotizing granulomas and strongly associated with tuberculosis infection (p = 0.001). Fungal infections, predominantly aspergillosis, were confirmed by PAS and GMS in 11.9% and 9.5% of cases, respectively, and were confined to non-necrotizing granulomas. The mandible was the most commonly affected site, and soft tissue lesions were significantly associated with necrotizing granulomas (p = 0.004). Conclusions: These findings underscore the complementary role of histopathology, histochemical stains, and molecular diagnostics in improving the evaluation and diagnosis of granulomatous inflammation in head and neck lesions.

Objective The COVID-19 pandemic has impacted various health conditions. Emerging evidence suggests that COVID-19 may trigger or exacerbate oral and maxillofacial conditions, yet data from Iraq and the broader Middle East remain limited. This retrospective cohort study, conducted at the Laboratory of Oral Pathology, College of Dentistry, University of Baghdad, explores potential links between COVID-19 infection and maxillofacial disorders. Methods This was a retrospective cohort study using data from the Laboratory of Oral Pathology, College of Dentistry, University of Baghdad. Cases were divided into pre-COVID-19 and post-COVID-19 periods. Chi-square tests assessed differences in oral pathologies incidence, while logistic regression analyzed associations with COVID-19 status and corticosteroid use. Results Mucormycosis cases demonstrated a significant increase from 3 (pre-COVID-19) to 23 (post-COVID-19), with 65.22% of post-COVID-19 patients testing COVID-19-positive. A significant increase in mucormycosis severity was observed after COVID-19 (χ² = 14.24, p = 0.0026). Logistic regression identified age (coefficient 0.8738) as having a significant association with severe mucormycosis, while COVID-19 status (coefficient 0.1272) exerted a lesser effect. Sjögren's syndrome increased from 15 to 25 cases, with a model area under the curve of 0.8, indicating substantial ability to distinguish symptom changes pre- vs. post-COVID-19. Conclusion The findings suggest that the pandemic has considerably impacted the incidence and severity of mucormycosis and Sjögren's syndrome. Older age and COVID-19 positivity may be key drivers of severe mucormycosis, whereas COVID-19 infection appeared to exacerbate Sjögren's syndrome symptoms. These results underscore the importance of vigilant monitoring and targeted therapeutic strategies for managing oral and maxillofacial conditions during and after viral pandemics.

Background: Odontogenic tumors are a diverse group of lesions with a variety of clinical behavior and histopathologic subtypes, from hamartomatous and benign to malignant. The study aimed to examine the clinical and pathological features of odontogenic tumors in Baghdad over the last 11 years (2011–2021). Materials and Methods: The present retrospective study analyzed all formalin-fixed, paraffin-embedded tissue blocks of patients diagnosed with an odontogenic tumor that were retrieved from archives at a teaching hospital/College of Dentistry in Baghdad University, Iraq, between 2011 and 2021. The diagnosis of each case was confirmed by examining the hematoxylin and eosin stained sections by two expert pathologists. Data from patients' case sheets were collected, including age, gender, location, and histopathological information. The type of lesions was evaluated based on the World Health Organization's most recent classification (March 2022). Results: There were 151 odontogenic tumor during this period. The most common type (39.1%) was Solid ameloblastoma. The mandibular tumors (76.8%) were more than the maxillary tumors (23.2%). The female to male ratio was 1.1:1. The most cases are found between the 2nd and 5th decades of life. Conclusions: Solid ameloblastoma was the most common odontogenic tumor, while primordial odontogenic tumor was the rarest, Odontogenic tumors were slightly more common in females than in males, the most common cases occur in the mandible., the outcome of the study gives valuable information regarding the patients' profile and type of odontogenic tumors over 11 years, which could aid in the early diagnosis and enhance the intervention.

Objectives This study compared the clinicopathological, immunohistochemical characteristics and Epstein-Barr virus (EBV) detection of Burkitt's lymphoma (BL) in the abdomen and jaw of Iraqi patients. Methods A cohort/retrospective study was carried out between August and September 2024 using 25 tissue blocks (14 gnathic and 11 abdominal BL) from the Oral and Maxillofacial Laboratory, University of Baghdad, College of Dentistry, and the National Centre for Educational Laboratories. The sections were stained with haematoxylin and eosin (H&E), while CD10, CD20, Bcl-2, BCl-6, C-Myc and Ki-67 markers were used for diagnosis. The DNA detection of the EBV was performed by polymerase chain reaction (PCR). Results The tumours showed 22 classical and 3 atypical histological patterns. The mean age of the patients was 6.3 years, and the male-to-female ratio was 3.1:1. The younger patients were affected by the gnathic BL ( P = 0.01), and the EBV was detected with a positive correlation ( P = 0.005) in 14% of the gnathic and 72% of the abdominal tumours. There was no significant correlation between the Ki-67 expression and the clinicopathological features. Conclusions A critical finding of this study was that gnathic BL tends to affect people of a younger age. In addition, the abdominal presentation of EBV suggests a regional pattern of viral exposure, while there was no correlation between the aggressiveness of BL and viral exposure or the tumour site.

Background and objectives: Histopathological similarities between craniopharyngioma (CP) and ameloblastoma (AB) have long been recognized, particularly the shared features of palisading columnar epithelium and stellate reticulum-like areas. This study aimed to investigate potential odontogenic differentiation in CP akin to AB using immunohistochemical odontogenic markers. Methods: We analyzed AMELX, ODAM, and CK19 expression in 44 cases (20 CP and 24 AB). Results: While AMELX and ODAM showed diffuse strong positive expression in both tumors with no significant statistical differences, CK19 expression was notably higher in CP. Conclusion: The markers AMELX and ODAM associated with odontogenic differentiation exhibited similar profiles in both tumors due to shared similar embryological origins. Notably, CK19, a biomarker of odontogenic epithelium, showed even higher expression, suggesting distinct pathways. These findings offer insights into tumor biology and may aid in diagnostic and therapeutic approaches.

Langerhans cell histiocytosis is a rare disease related to aggressive proliferation of histiocytes that could be a multisystem involvement disease. The diagnosis is based on the histopathological finding. Oral findings should carefully be considered when extensive periodontal involvement is seen in comparison to marginal periodontitis.

OBJECTIVE:To determine the expression of key epithelial-mesenchymal transition (EMT) markers in gingival tissue samples collected from patients with periodontitis.BACKGROUND:Epithelial-mesenchymal transition is a process responsible for shifting epithelial-phenotype to mesenchymal-phenotype leading to loss of epithelial-barrier function. Thus, EMT could be involved as a pathogenic mechanism in periodontitis as both conditions share common promoters and signalling pathways.MATERIALS AND METHODS:Gingival tissue samples were collected from patients with periodontitis (case) and healthy periodontium (control). Periodontal parameters including bleeding on probing, probing pocket depth (PPD), and clinical attachment loss were recorded. Paraffinized tissue samples were processed and immunohistochemically stained to determine the expression of key EMT markers which included E-cadherin, β-catenin, Snail1 and vimentin.RESULTS:The majority of cases (n = 65, 72.2%) were diagnosed with periodontitis stage 3 or 4, grade b or c vs 25 (27.8%) subjects with intact healthy periodontium. Discontinuity of epithelium was detected in up to 80.9% of periodontitis cases associated with reduced number of epithelial layers as compared to controls. Immunohistochemical expression of epithelial markers (E-cadherin and β-catenin) was significantly downregulated in periodontitis patients as compared with controls. Periodontitis cases exhibited significant upregulation of Snail1 expression. Furthermore, cytoplasmic vimentin (66.2%) and nuclear β-catenin (27.7%) were solely expressed in periodontally diseased tissues compared with control. Epithelial markers, E-cadherin and β-catenin, were significantly negatively correlated with increasing PPD, while vimentin showed positive correlation with this parameter.CONCLUSION:There were marked downregulation of epithelial molecules and upregulation of mesenchymal markers in gingival tissues derived from periodontitis patients, suggesting expression of the EMT phenotype in the pathological epithelial lining of periodontal pockets.

Background and Aims:Odontogenic cysts and tumors often form hard and soft structures that resemble odontogenesis. It is well known that amyloid is produced in Pindborg tumors; however, it is still debatable whether it is also formed in other odontogenic tumors and cysts. This study aimed to detect the presence of amyloid in different odontogenic cysts and tumors in correlation to matrix proteins secreted during enamel formation; namely amelogenin and odontogenic ameloblast-associated protein. Methods:This study included formalin fixed paraffin embedded tissue blocks of 106 different types of odontogenic cysts and tumors. Congo red and thioflavin T were performed to confirm the presence of amyloid; immunohistochemistry was used to detect amelogenin and odontogenic ameloblast-associated protein. Results:Amyloid was detected in pindborg tumors (conventional), adenomatoid odontogenic tumors, odontogenic fibroma (Amyloid variant), follicular solid and unicystic ameloblastomas, radicular cysts, dentigerous cysts, dentinogenic ghost cell odontogenic tumor, ameloblastic fibroma, calcifying odontogenic cyst, and primordial Odontogenic tumor. Amelogenin was detected in 95.3% of the cases, while odontogenic ameloblast-associated protein was detected in 93.4% of the cases. The association between odontogenic ameloblast-associated protein and amyloid was highly significant at p < 0.01. However, there was no significant relationship between amelogenin and amyloid p > 0.05. Conclusion:Although pindborg tumor is the bonafide example of amyloid deposition in odontogenic tumors, this study concluded that amyloid may be deposited in traces to massive amounts in various odontogenic cysts and tumors, and it is significantly linked to odontogenic ameloblast-associated protein but not amelogenin matrix protein, since all amyloid cases were odontogenic ameloblast associated protein positive.

Background: Oral pyogenic granuloma (PG) is a clinicopathological entity that could develop due to the reaction to a variety of stimuli, such as low-grade local irritation, traumatic damage, and hormonal stimulation. There are two histopathological types of pyogenic granuloma; lobular type -capillary hemangioma (LCH) and non-lobular type; with PG,LCH has highly vascular, diffuse capillary growth while non- lobular variant mimicking granulation tissue with heavily inflammated stroma. The study aims were to review the clinical and histopathological spectrum of an oral pyogenic granuloma from different intraoral sites in order to avoid diagnostic pitfalls associated with similar morphological lesions and to determine whether lobular and non-lobular histopathological subtypes being distinct entities. Materials and Methods: A retrospective review of eighty formalin-fixed paraffin-embedded tissue blocks (40 cases each of males and females) were retrieved from the archives of Oral & Maxillofacial Pathology at the University of Baghdad, from 1979 to 2017. According to Mills et al., criteria for lobular capillary hemangioma description, the diagnosis of each case was confirmed by the examination of Hematoxylin and Eosin stained sections by an expert pathologists. Results:The present result revealed that patients with oral pyogenic granuloma were with age range from 12 to 59 years, with a mean of 30.57 years. Fourty nine cases (61.25%) out of eighty were of lobular pattern and 31 cases (38.7%) of non-lobular pattern type PG. The most common site of LCH was in the buccal mucosa, 12 cases (75%), while higher case numbers were observed in the 21-30 year age group. There were non-significant differences between lobular and non-lobular pattern prevalence regarding age groups and between other studied variables. Conclusio: It has been proposed that LCH and non-LCH subtypes reflect distinct phases in the development of a single lesion, which exhibits variable degrees of proliferative, angiogenic, and inflammatory activities.

Background Variants of basal cell carcinoma (BCC) appear to behave biologically differently. Several histological patterns impact the concept of low-risk (indolent) and high-risk (aggressive) types in the head and neck. This study aims to assess the biological behavior of BCC variants by immunohistochemical expression of S100, alpha-smooth muscle actin (α-SMA), podoplanin, matrix metalloproteinase 13 (MMP-13), and human epidermal growth factor receptor 2 (HER2)neu biomarkers. Methodology A total of 65 paraffin-embedded tissue blocks of BCC of the head and neck were retrieved from the collections of the Histopathology Department of the Medical City Teaching Complex and the Ghazi Al-Harerri Hospital at the University of Baghdad's College of Dentistry, spanning the years 2015 through 2021. S100, α-SMA, podoplanin, MMP-13, and HER2neu biomarkers were used to perform immunohistochemical analysis (Abcam). Results This study noticed different expressions of S100, α-SMA, podoplanin, MMP-13, and HER2neu between different variants. There was no immunohistochemical expression in perineural invasion with all cases of BCC variants. The highest expression was seen in HER2neu, MMP-13, and α-SMA with aggressive histological patterns. There was no podoplanin lymphatic vessel density immunoexpressing in all variants, while tumoral podoplanin showed a significant difference in all variants. HER2neu was correlated with all other biomarkers. Conclusions HER2neu, MMP-13, and α-SMA biomarkers can be used as diagnostic markers to predict the aggressive biological behavior of BCC tumors.

Objectives: Oral Squamous Cell Carcinoma is a disease of adults that rarely develops before the age of fifty. However, there is a gradual increase in the occurrence of the disease among young people over the world. As reported in many publications, a tumor developing in young patients lacks the usual associated risk factors, such as tobacco smoking, and thus such a tumor has an aggressive outcome. This study aims to compare the tumor development among young and old patients in terms of etiological and biological behavior using immunohistochemistry for the high-risk human papilloma virus, proliferative and apoptotic markers. Material and methods: This study was conducted on 35 cases of paraffin-embedded tissue blocks of oral squamous cell carcinoma divided into two age groups, twenty cases > 40 years, and fifteen cases <= 40 years. The Clinocopathological finding was collected and recorded. Immunohistochemical analysis was performed using HPV 16/18, p16, p21, ki67and p53. Results: This study did not reveal a significant difference between the tumor of the young and old patients regarding the viral receptors, proliferation, and apoptosis. Where p-value > 0. 05. Conclusion: Viral expression, proliferation, and apoptosis have no effect on tumor differentiation among young and old patients.

Introduction pemphigus vulgaris (PV) is an autoimmune condition characterized by the loss of adhesion between the epithelial cells and blister formation. The production of autoantibodies against desmosomal proteins, namely, desmoglein (DSG) 1 and DSG3, is considered a main event of PV. A full understanding of the role of adhesion molecules in the pathogenesis of PV is not fully elucidated yet. This study aimed to evaluate and correlate the immunohistochemical expression of E-cadherin (E-cad), DSG1, and DSG3 proteins in oral and skin PV. Methods this study was a retrospective analysis study. Positive PV cases were stained with anti-E-cad, anti-DSG1, and anti-DSG3 antibodies. The expression of each marker was determined by two pathologists according to an established scoring system: (E-cad: negative, weak, moderate, and strong), (DSG1: negative, weak, and strong), and (DSG3: negative and positive). The Chi-square and Pearson´s correlation tests were used to statistically analyze the data. Results forty-three biopsies (26 skin and 17 oral tissue samples) from 22 males and 21 female PV patients were included. The median age was 40.50 years. In total, the immunohistochemical expression was negative for DSG3, E-cad, and DSG1 in 81.4%, 18.5%, and 16.4%, respectively. DSG1 expression was significantly higher in males than females. A statistically significant correlation was found between E-cad and DSG3 expressions. Conclusion a significant difference in the expression of markers of both oral and skin PV was absent. Downregulation of DSG3 expression was the hallmark feature that also showed a positive correlation with E-cad expression.

This retrospective study aimed to assess the clinical features, associated risk factors and mortality rate in a group of Iraqi patients with Rhino-cerebral mucormycosis (RCM). The medical records of sixteen consecutive cases of RCM were reviewed retrospectively. Biopsies from the patients were referred to the Oral Pathology Laboratory at the College of Dentistry/University of Baghdad for histopathologic examination to confirm the diagnosis during the period from 2010 to 2019. The patients age ranged from 20 to 80 years with an average of 54.38 years. Fourteen (87.5 %) of the patients were males and 15 (93.75 %) were uncontrolled diabetics. The diagnosis was made by clinical and radiographic examination and confirmed by histopathological evaluation. All patients presented with an exposed intraoral necrotic bone and oro-nasal and antral fistulae. Follow up information was available for a minimum of six months, during which; two patients (12.5 %) were deceased within the review period. Base on this cohort of subjects, RCM is more common among males. Diabetes mellitus constitutes a significant risk factor for this infection. The presences of necrotizing maxillary lesion with fistula tract in RCM could be the reason for lower mortality rate in comparison to other mucormycosis variants. This difference in outcome could be explained by the early presentation, histopathological diagnosis and treatment of the cases.

Background and AimsPemphigus vulgaris is an autoimmune vesiculobullous mucocutaneous disorder with life-threatening consequences. Early detection and adequate care are crucial for a good prognosis. This study aimed to determine the demographic data, clinical features, and the prognosis of patients with oral pemphigus vulgaris. Materials and MethodsFrom 2001 to 2021, all diagnosed oral pemphigus vulgaris cases were extracted. Each patient's demographic and clinical data were gathered. Patients were called via phone to assess the prognosis, treatment type, and specialty of the physician who provided the diagnosis and therapy. ResultsThe majority of the patients had only oral lesions with higher prevalence in female who also expressed severe pain than male. Only 14 of 29 patients responded phone calls. Except for one, all patients were in active disease. More than half of those respondents said pemphigus negatively affects social behavior and food intake. Correct diagnosis and treatment were decided by dermatology, oral medicine, and maxillofacial surgery specialists. ConclusionOral pemphigus vulgaris was prevalent in females. Severe pain was common in females and older people. Even with effective therapy, the prognosis was poor. Medical and dental professionals had little knowledge of pemphigus vulgaris. Patients frequently report poor quality of life.

Epithelial mesenchymal transition (EMT) is a process comprising cellular and molecular events which result in cells shifting from an epithelial to a mesenchymal phenotype. Periodontitis is a destructive chronic disease of the periodontium initiated in response to a dysbiotic microbiome, and dominated by Gram-negative bacteria in the subgingival niches accompanied by an aberrant immune response in susceptible subjects. Both EMT and periodontitis share common risk factors and drivers, including Gram-negative bacteria, excess inflammatory cytokine production, smoking, oxidative stress and diabetes mellitus. In addition, periodontitis is characterized by down-regulation of key epithelial markers such as E-cadherin together with up-regulation of transcriptional factors and mesenchymal proteins, including Snail1, vimentin and N-cadherin, which also occur in the EMT program. Clinically, these phenotypic changes may be reflected by increases in microulceration of the pocket epithelial lining, granulation tissue formation, and fibrosis. Both in vitro and in vivo data now support the potential involvement of EMT as a pathogenic mechanism in periodontal diseases which may facilitate bacterial invasion into the underlying gingival tissues and propagation of inflammation. This review surveys the available literature and provides evidence linking EMT to periodontitis pathogenesis.

Background: Squamous cell carcinoma is a disease of elderly peopleand it is uncommon in people with less than 40 years old; however many literatures revealed that tumor developing in patients younger than forty years appears more aggressive at the time of diagnosis. The purpose of the present study was to focus on the clincopathological features of the oral SCC in different age groups. Material and methods: In this study thirty five cases of paraffin embedded tissue blocks of oral squamous cell carcinoma were studied. The age range was from 16 to 80 years. The clinicopathological data were recorded for evaluating the tumor characters according to age of patients. Results : The age was not significantly correlated to the clinicopathological features that involved the gender of the patients, anatomical site of the tumor, perineural invasion , histological grading and staging .