Assessment of expression of podoplanin in odontogenic tumors and cysts—An immunohistochemical study

AIM: The present study was conducted to determine the podoplanin expression in odontogenic tumors and cysts. MATERIALS AND METHODS: It consisted of 12 cases of the keratocystic odontogenic tumor (KCOT), 10 cases of ameloblastoma, 8 cases of dentigerous cysts (DC), 8 cases of radicular cysts (RC) and 8 dental follicles (DF) as controls which were immunohistochemically evaluated using an antibody against podoplanin. RESULTS: Immunostaining intensity, % of PPC and total score of ameloblastoma was higher than DC and DF but less than KCOT (t- 1.48). When DC was compared with KCOT and RC, the podoplanin expression was significantly higher with DC (P < 0.05). The podoplanin expression was comparatively higher with KCOT as compared to RC and DC. OT (t-4.40) revealed higher podoplanin expression as compared to OC and DF (t-5.54). CONCLUSION: There was significantly higher expression of podoplanin in cases of ameloblastoma and KCOT as compared to the RC, DC and DF. Podoplanin may be considered as a useful marker to delineate the aggressiveness of ameloblastoma and KCOT.