Objective: The aim of this study was to compare normal and hyperplastic mandibular condyles using two different histopathologic staining techniques.
Study design: Nine cases of condylar hyperplasia and 13 normal cases were studied after hematoxylin and eosin and silver staining.
Results: There was a significant difference between the two groups in the thickness of the hyperplastic cartilage layer of condylar soft tissue (P = 0.017). Also, the number of argyrophilic nucleolar organizer regions was significantly higher in the condylar hyperplasia case group (P = 0.0001). No significant differences could be demonstrated in cartilage island frequency, penetration depth, and distribution in the cancellous bone of condyles.
Conclusion: The thickness of the hyperplastic cartilage layer appears significantly increased in condylar hyperplasia. In addition, argyrophilic nucleolar organizer region count may be useful in histopathological identification of condylar hyperplasia.