[Immunohistochemical expression of vimentin and HHF-35 in giant cell fibroma, fibrous hyperplasia and fibroma of the oral mucosa].

The giant cell fibroma, fibrous hyperplasia and fibroma are the most frequent fibrous oral lesions, sharing clinical and histopathological features. The purpose of this study was to investigate the immunoreactivity of the large stellate-shaped mononuclear and multinucleated cells, reported as the most characteristic histological feature of the giant cell fibroma but present occasionally in fibrous hyperplasia and fibroma, for the antibodies vimentin and HHF-35 in order to detect phenotypical characteristic of these cells. The results showed in the most of cases positive staining for vimentin, suggesting a fibroblast phenotype for these cells.