World Journal of Dentistry

Register      Login

VOLUME 9 , ISSUE 5 ( September-October, 2018 ) > List of Articles

ORIGINAL ARTICLE

Differential Stains for Identification of Normal and Pathological Hard Tissues using Hematoxylin and Eosin, Masson's Trichrome, and Modified Gallego's Stains: A Comparative Study

Preeti Singh, K Shwetha Nambiar, Vanishree C Haragannavar

Keywords : Hard tissues, Masson's trichrome stain, Mineralization, Modified Gallego's stain

Citation Information : Singh P, Nambiar KS, Haragannavar VC. Differential Stains for Identification of Normal and Pathological Hard Tissues using Hematoxylin and Eosin, Masson's Trichrome, and Modified Gallego's Stains: A Comparative Study. World J Dent 2018; 9 (5):372-376.

DOI: 10.5005/jp-journals-10015-1565

License: CC BY-NC 4.0

Published Online: 01-03-2019

Copyright Statement:  Copyright © 2018; The Author(s).


Abstract

Aim: The diagnosis of odontogenic tumors and other fibro-osseous lesions could be challenging. Use of routine histological staining procedures like hematoxylin and eosin (H&E) may not aid in providing insight into the nature and character of the hard tissues, thereby require advanced diagnostic aids like immunohistochemistry (IHC), which is technique-sensitive and expensive. Masson's trichrome (MT) stain and modified Gallego's (MG) stain can differentially stain hard tissues, such as tooth, bone, and other pathologic calcifications. The study aims to differentially stain various hard tissue structures present in normal teeth and hard tissue pathologies and compare between the routine stain H&E, MT, and MG stains. Study of oral hard tissues, comparing H&E, MT, and MG stains is the first of its kind according to our knowledge. Materials and methods: A total of 30 paraffin-embedded tissues were taken from the archives of the Department of Oral Pathology and Microbiology including 15 normal hard tissue structures comprising of 5 decalcified sections of teeth, 5 ground sections of teeth and 5 decalcified section of normal bone. Fifteen histopathologically diagnosed cases of hard tissue lesions/odontogenic lesions (odontome 3, cemento-ossifying fibroma 5, cementoblastoma 5, and central ossifying fibroma 2) were taken. Three sections were taken from each tissue block and subjected to H&E, MT, and MG stains. Results: Slides when stained with MG stain, enamel stains pink, dentine stains light green, cementum stains red, and bone stains dark green. Clinically significant result was obtained in case of modified Gallego's stain (0.001). MG > MT > H&E: 75 > 50 > 45% respectively, in comparison with other two stains. The shade of color differs with the amount of mineralization of the hard tissues. For statistical analysis, chi-square test was employed. Conclusion: Among H and E, MT, and MG stains, MG stain could be a promising differential stain in hard tissue pathologies and other fibro-osseous lesions with diagnostic dilemmas. Clinical significance: MG stain helps in diagnosis of ambiguous lesions, detection of origin/nature of lesions, differentiation of aggressive and nonaggressive lesions, thus enabling clinicians to know their biological behavior and plan adequate treatment.


PDF Share
  1. Ross MH, Pawlina W. Histology: a text and atlas with correlated cell and molecular biology. Baltimore (MD): Lippincott Williams & Wilkins; 2006.pp.122-125.
  2. Suvarna SK, Layton C, Bancroft JD. Bancroft's theory and practice of histological techniques. China: Elsevier Health Sciences;2012.pp.121-125.
  3. Culling CF. Histopathological and histochemical techniques. 3rd ed. London: Butterworth; 1974.pp.63-72.
  4. Lillie RD. Histopathologic technique. Philadelphia (PA): The Blakiston Company; 1948.pp.203.
  5. Hess JA, Villanueva AR. Differential staining of decalcified teeth and bones by modified Attwood's stain. Lab Med 1983 Jul;14(7):435-438.
  6. Kumar GS. Orban's oral histology & embryology. 13th ed. New Delhi: Elsevier Health Sciences;2014.pp.51-53.
  7. Nanci A. Ten Cate's oral histology-pageburst on vitalsource: development, structure, and function. St. Louis (MO): Elsevier Health Sciences;2007. pp.159-165.
  8. Tamgadge SA, Tamgadge A, Srivastava C, Satheesan E, Bhalerao S. Modified Gallego's stain as differential stain for oral hard tissues in oral pathology: a preliminary report. Int J Oral Maxillofac Pathol 2014;5(2):2-6.
  9. Satheesan E, Tamgadge S, Tamgadge A, Bhalerao S, Periera T. Histopathological and radiographic analysis of dental follicle using modified Gallego's stain. J Clin Diagn Res 2016 May;10(5):ZC106-ZC111.
  10. Manish S, Sharma Gaganjot K. Peripheral ossifying fibroma— a masquerade. Ann Dent Res 2012 Sep;2(1):36-43.
  11. Mudhiraj PV, Vanje MM, Reddy BN, Ahmed SA, Suri C, Taveer S, Kumar S. Nature of hard tissues in oral pathological lesions – using modified Gallego's stain. J Clin Diagn Res 2017 Apr;11(4):ZC13-ZC15.
  12. Avinash T, Sandhya T, Gokul V, Neha T, Snehal D. Juvenile cemento-ossifying fibroma: a case report using modified Gallego's staining. Int J Res Med Sci 2016 Feb;4(2):658-661.
  13. Chaudhary M, Chaudhary SD. Osteosarcoma of jaws. J Oral Maxillofac Surg Med Pathol 2012 May-Aug;16(2):233-238.
  14. Rajendran R. Cysts and tumors of odontogenic origin. In: Rajendran R, Sivapathasundharam B, editors. Shafer's textbook of oral pathology. 6th ed. Noida: Elsevier;2009. pp. 282-283.
PDF Share
PDF Share

© Jaypee Brothers Medical Publishers (P) LTD.