Cytomorphometric analysis of obtained squames obtained from normal oral mucosa and lesions of oral submucous fibrosis

Introduction: The oral cavity is the site of many diseases. Not only dental, even medical professionals encounter a wide spectrum of oral mucosal lesions in their day-to-day clinical practice. An adequate diagnosis is essential as these lesions may vary in nature from simple to life threatening ones. As nuclear changes are the most important criteria for diagnosing precancerous and cancerous lesions and since no single structural change is diagnostic by itself, a combination of several abnormalities is always necessary. There are several studies in the literature that have used cell diameter (CD) and nuclear diameter (ND) parameters in morphometric analysis of cells. Application of quantitative techniques to smears obtained from oral premalignant lesions like oral submucous fibrosis could possibly improve the diagnostic value of oral exfoliative cytology. The cytological study of oral mucosal cells is simple, rapid and nonaggressive and relatively painless. It is thus well-accepted by patients and suitable for screening large population, for early analysis of suspect lesions. Materials and methods: Oral exfoliative smears were collected from 50 clinically confirmed cases of oral submucous fibrosis (OSMF) and 50 control group. All cytological smears were fixed with commercially available spray fixative for 15 minutes and all the smears are stained with Papanicolaou′s (PAP) stain and with computer assistance, CD and ND was assessed. Results: The results showed decrease in CD in OSMF patients when compare to normal patients and increase in ND in OSMF patients when compare to normal patients. Interpretation and conclusion: The reduction in CD and increase in ND could be early indications toward a malignant change- Application of quantitative techniques to smears obtained from the buccal mucosa of the study groups could possibly improve the diagnostic value of oral exfoliative cytology