The fine structure of epithelial cells in normal and pathological buccal mucosa. III. Pathological changes in spinous, transitional and superficial cells in the erosive type of lichen planus.

Superficial, transitional and polygonal buccal epithelial cells from patients with the erosive type of lichen planus were compared with similar cells from non-keratinizing human buccal mucosa. Transitional cells from non-keratinizing buccal mucosa had glycogen lakes and membrane-coating granules with electron dense cores. Surface cells were not keratinized and pathological cells were less granular. In lichen planus membrane-coating granules were numerous, markedly electron dense, and some showed an internal lamellar structure. Surface cells were keratotic or parakeratotic. Processes of macrophages were associated with the pathological membrane-coating granules.