Morphologic study of jejunal mucosal transplants for the replacement of oral mucosa.

Biopsies were taken at 8 and 12 weeks and at 6 months from oral jejunal mucosal transplants in 5 patients who had undergone extensive surgery for tumors of the floor of the mouth. Microvascular anastomosed jejunal mucosa had been used for the primary reconstruction. Histological findings included flattening of the jejunal relief, atrophy and erosion of the epithelium with reduction of jejunal excretion and marginal overlapping of oral mucosa. Immunohistochemical labelling of the cytoskeleton revealed that jejunal epithelium does not undergo rapid metaplasia in the course of adaptation to oral mucosa. These findings indicate that the jejunal mucosa does not completely change its architecture and does not adapt to the requirements of the oral cavity after a period of 6 months.