Cytomorphometric Analysis of Oral Buccal Mucosa of Dental Colleges’ Students in Sulaimani City

Abstract

This study evaluates the cytomorphometric measures of cells obtained from the buccal mucosa of dental students to assess the fluctuation of the cellular characteristics among relatively normal subjects, with any potential correlations with demographic information, different habits, and hormonal disturbance. This prospective study included 100 dental students with no detectable oral alterations submitted to brush cytology. The smears were fixed with 95% ethyl alcohol and stained with hematoxylin and eosin stain. The stained section was observed under an image analyzer for cytomorphometric analysis. Cytopathological observations were recorded, including inflammation, microbial colonies, micronuclei, keratinization, overlapping, and hemorrhage. Chi-square tests were applied for non-parametric variables. One-way analysis of variance (ANOVA) was used to compare the cytometric parameters to habits and hormonal disturbances. A p-value p = 0.003, p = 0.02), respectively. Oral exfoliative cytology combined with cytomorphometric analysis for the studied normal individuals can be helpful in various investigations of oral and systemic diseases.

Keywords

• buccal mucosa
• cytomorphometric analysis
• hormonal influence
• micronuclei