CLEAR CELL LESIONS OF ORAL CAVITY-AN INSIGHT

Abstract

The clear cell lesions of head and neck region are rare and both benign and malignant lesions are observed. The usual factors attributing to clear cells in a pathology are accumulation of glycogen, mucopolysaccharides, lipids, mucin, foreign material in cytoplasm, hydropic degeneration of cell organelles, artifactual changes and improper cell preservation. Physiologically certain cells having rich glycogen content of the cytoplasm such as remnants of dental lamina, rests of malassez and eccrine sweat gland have clear cytoplasm. Lipids of adipose tissue is lost during processing with organic solvents(xylene) and thus appear clear. Pathologic clearing of cells happen if the tumour cells having glycogen/mucin/lipid content and hydropic degeneration of neoplastic cells. Clear cells found in tumours of head and neck are commonly of odontogenic cysts and tumours, salivary gland tumours and metastatic tumours. The appearance of clear cells may be due to fixation artifacts, lesser cell organelles giving an empty appearance and accumulation of substances such as glycogen, mucin, lipids, immature granules intracellularly. Cellular contents mentioned above may be washed during tissue processing that gives a clear appearance.