Cytomorphometry of normal exfoliated gingival cells: An analytical study

Abstract

Introduction: Gingiva is lined by stratified squamous epithelium. One of the most common types of carcinoma in the world is oral cancer. Gingival cancers are a common type of oral neoplasm. In order to compare normal tissue with pathological smears using exfoliative oral cytology with morphometry, a baseline must be established. A study was conducted to obtain nuclear area (NA), cytoplasmic area (CA), and N:C ratio-nuclear: Cytoplasmic ratio of exfoliated normal gingival cells and to correlate it with healthy individuals by their age and gender. Methodology: Exfoliated gingival squamous cell smears were obtained from 200 subjects (100 males, 100 females) belonging to age groups 60 years. Smears were fixed and stained by routine Hematoxylin and Eosin staining procedure. With the use of both ocular micrometer and stage micrometer different cellular parameters were measured. Student's t-test was used for statistical analysis. Results: There were significant differences in NA, CA, and N:C ratio with age regardless of gender. Different age groups of males showed significant variations (P < 0.0001) in all the above parameters. The same was true for different age groups of females. In terms of NA, CA, and N:C ratio, the difference between both genders was significant regardless of age. Conclusion: Gingival smears showed age and sex-linked changes in NA, CA, and nuclear: Cytoplasmic ratio. It might serve as a standard for these variables when comparing similar measurements based on pathologic smears of malignant or premalignant nature.

Keywords

• baseline
• cytomorphometry
• cytoplasmic area
• gingival smear
• nuclear area
• nuclear: cytoplasmic ratio
• oral cancer