OBJECTIVE AND STUDY DESIGN: The morphological distinction between incipient dentigerous cyst (IDC) and enlarged pericoronal dental follicle (EDF) remains one of the most controversial questions in the literature. The objective of this study was to analyze the immunohistochemistry expression of alfa(2)beta(1), alfa(3)beta(1), and alfa(5)beta(1) in 23 cases of EDFs and 21 cases of IDCs. RESULTS: All integrins were immunopositive in the cases studied. A significant difference was detected regarding alfa(2)beta(1) integrin (P < .0001) in which a higher expression was present in IDCs. Moreover, statistical difference was also found between basal and suprabasal cell layer in cystic epithelium (P < .0034). The alfa(3)beta(1) integrin expression showed significant difference (P < .013) between EDF and IDC with a tendency of more pronounced staining in IDC. CONCLUSIONS: These results corroborate the possibility of histopathological distinction between EDF and IDC in which squamous metaplasia of reduced enamel epithelium to stratified epithelium would be the first event of cystic transformation.
OBJECTIVE AND STUDY DESIGN: The morphological distinction between incipient dentigerous cyst (IDC) and enlarged pericoronal dental follicle (EDF) remains one of the most controversial questions in the literature. The objective of this study was to analyze the immunohistochemistry expression of alfa(2)beta(1), alfa(3)beta(1), and alfa(5)beta(1) in 23 cases of EDFs and 21 cases of IDCs. RESULTS: All integrins were immunopositive in the cases studied. A significant difference was detected regarding alfa(2)beta(1) integrin (P < .0001) in which a higher expression was present in IDCs. Moreover, statistical difference was also found between basal and suprabasal cell layer in cystic epithelium (P < .0034). The alfa(3)beta(1) integrin expression showed significant difference (P < .013) between EDF and IDC with a tendency of more pronounced staining in IDC. CONCLUSIONS: These results corroborate the possibility of histopathological distinction between EDF and IDC in which squamous metaplasia of reduced enamel epithelium to stratified epithelium would be the first event of cystic transformation.