OBJECTIVE: To investigate the mode of expression and distribution of transforming growth factor alpha in middle ear cholesteatoma. METHOD: The specimens from the cholesteatoma tissue of 32 cases and the normal external ear skin of 10 cases were examined by immunohistochemical S-P method and computer image analysis. RESULT: In cholesteatoma epithelium staining for TGF alpha was consistently stronger than that in normal epithelium. The mean absorbance of the two epithelial tissue is 2.431 +/- 0.587 and 1.463 +/- 0.147 respectively, revealing a significant difference. Some immune cells infiltrating the stroma of cholesteatoma also stained positively for TGF alpha. CONCLUSION: These data suggested that an autocrine and paracrine stimulation of the squamous epithelium of cholesteatoma by TGF might contribute to its hyperproliferation.
OBJECTIVE: To investigate the mode of expression and distribution of transforming growth factor alpha in middle ear cholesteatoma. METHOD: The specimens from the cholesteatoma tissue of 32 cases and the normal external ear skin of 10 cases were examined by immunohistochemical S-P method and computer image analysis. RESULT: In cholesteatoma epithelium staining for TGF alpha was consistently stronger than that in normal epithelium. The mean absorbance of the two epithelial tissue is 2.431 +/- 0.587 and 1.463 +/- 0.147 respectively, revealing a significant difference. Some immune cells infiltrating the stroma of cholesteatoma also stained positively for TGF alpha. CONCLUSION: These data suggested that an autocrine and paracrine stimulation of the squamous epithelium of cholesteatoma by TGF might contribute to its hyperproliferation.