Cytomorphological analysis in oral squamous cell carcinoma lesions and normal controls using rub and rinse technique

Context: Early diagnosis of oral cancer requires simple noninvasive screening tools. Aim: To analyze the cytomorphological features of keratinocytes in smears obtained from the oral mucosa of oral squamous cell carcinoma (OSCC) lesions and normal controls using oral rub and rinse technique. Settings and Design: Oral smears were prepared using oral rub and rinse method in subjects with OSCC cases (n = 35) and apparently healthy normal controls (n = 35). They were subjected to cytomorphometric analysis. Materials and Methods : The smears prepared with the rinse method were stained with Papanicolaou stain. Quantitative assessment of nuclear diameter (ND), cytoplasmic diameter (CD), cellular area (CA), nuclear area (NA), and nuclear cytoplasmic ratio (N:C) was carried out. Statistical Analysis Used: Unpaired Student′s t-test was used to compare the mean value between the groups. Results: There was a significant difference between ND, CD, CA, NA, and N: C of oral cancer cells and that of the normal controls. There was increase in the mean ND, NA, and N: C; and decrease in CA and CD of cancer subjects when compared to that of normal controls. Conclusion: Cytomorphometric analysis of keratinocytes obtained with oral rinse method can serve as a useful adjunct in the early diagnosis of OSCCs.