[Epidermal Langerhans cells in cholesteatoma].

This article introduces an indirect immunologic fluorescent technique employing the monoclonal antibody OKT-6 to label and demonstrate Langerhans cells (LCs). These epidermal LCs were identified in normal tympanic membranes, canal skin and cholesteatoma. It was suggested that the only apparent difference among them was an increased number and distribution of LCs located at various levels within the epithelium in the cholesteatoma matrix. The LCs in the cholesteatoma matrix displayed morphologic features similar to those in contact hypersensitivity state.