Comparison of Staining of Keratin Pearl and Individual Cell Keratin in Oral Squamous Cell Carcinoma by Modified Papanicolaou, Modified Mallory’s and Hematoxylin and Eosin Stain

Observation of Keratin pearl (KP) and individual cell keratin (ICK) is one of the criteria in grading oral squamous cell carcinoma (SCC). The aim of the study was to evaluate and compare the distinct staining and identification of KP and ICK by routine Hematoxylin and Eosin (H&E) stain Modified Mallory’s and Modified Papanicolaou Stain. A total number of 38 paraffin embedded tissues of known cases of well-differentiated and moderately-differentiated SCC were taken and 3 sections of 4-5 micron thickness from each block were cut and stained with H&E stain, Modified Mallory’s and modified Papanicolou stain. The KP and ICK were distinctly and clearly stained by modified Papanicolou, modified Mallory’s stain compared to H&E stain. The positive staining of KP and ICK by modified Papanicolou stain was statistically significant than modified Mallory’s and H&E stain at P=0.033 and P=0.001. Based on our findings we conclude that the efficacy of distinct identification of KP and ICK in oral SCC by modified Papanicolou stain is better than modified Mallory’s stain and H&E stain. So it can be used as an adjuvant in case of oral SCC.