Detection of Helicobacter pylori in oral squamous cell carcinoma using modified Giemsa stain: A new diagnostic approach

• Published in: Journal of cancer research and therapeutics Vol. 18; no. 1; pp. 72 - 75
• Main Authors: Gore, Rucha, Palaskar, Sangeeta, Pawar, Rasika, Khule, Shreeedhar
• Format: Journal Article
• Language: English
• Published: India Wolters Kluwer India Pvt. Ltd 01-01-2022; Medknow Publications and Media Pvt. Ltd; Medknow Publications & Media Pvt. Ltd
• Subjects: Azure Stains; Carcinoma, Squamous Cell - diagnosis; Complications and side effects; Diagnosis; Head and Neck Neoplasms; Helicobacter infections; Helicobacter Infections - complications; Helicobacter Infections - diagnosis; Helicobacter Infections - microbiology; Helicobacter pylori; Humans; Mouth cancer; Mouth Neoplasms - diagnosis; Oral cancer; Oral hygiene; Risk factors; Squamous cell carcinoma; Squamous Cell Carcinoma of Head and Neck; India; Warthin-Starry stain; oral squamous cell carcinoma; modified Giemsa; Helicobacter pylori; Warthin–Starry stain
• ISSN: 0973-1482; 1998-4138
• DOI: 10.4103/jcrt.JCRT_562_17

Context: Oral squamous cell carcinoma (OSCC) is the sixth most common cancer worldwide. It is mainly known to be caused by tobacco in various forms and also due to viral, fungal infection and poor oral hygiene, etc. Poor oral hygiene leads to colonization of pathogenic bacteria including Helicobacter pylori. It seems that the presence of H. pylori might be a risk factor for developing oral cancer. The successful attempt was made to detect H. pylori in diagnosed specimens of OSCC using Warthin-starry and Giemsa stains in our department. The modified Giemsa stain is the method of choice because it is sensitive, cheap, easy to perform, faster, and reproducible.
Aim: The aim of this study is to detect H. pylori in various grades of OSCC using modified Giemsa stain.
Subjects and Methods: Thirty cases of various grades of OSCC were selected from the archives of the department. Five-micrometer-thick paraffin-embedded tissue sections of these cases were taken and stained with modified Giemsa and were studied under ×100 magnification.
Results: All the tissue sections studied were positive for H. pylori bacteria.
Conclusions: Our study showed a significant presence of H. pylori in histological sections of OSCC, and it seems likely that the presence of H. pylori might be a risk factor for the developing oral lesions such as oral cancer. Early detection and eradication of H. pylori in the oral cavity, especially in high-risk patients, might prevent its harmful consequences.