Role of exfoliative cytology in the detection of potentially malignant lesions of oral cavity in high risk population Kulkarni Vardendra1, Kulkarni Pavan G2,*, Bijjaragi Seema3, Thirumal K T4 1Assistant Professor, Department of Pathology, JJM Medical College, Davangere, Karnataka, India 2Assistant Professor, Department of Oral Pathology and Microbiology, Bapuji Dental College and Hospital, Davangere, Karnataka, India 3Associate Professor, Department of Pathology, JJM Medical College, Davangere, Karnataka, India 4IIIrd M.B.B.S Student, JJM Medical College, Davangere, Karnataka, India *Corresponding author: Pavan G Kulkarni, Assistant Professor Department of Oral Pathology and Microbiology, Bapuji Dental College and Hospital, Davangere577004, Karnataka (India) Contact Number: 09741567526; Email: drpgkulkarni@rediffmail.com
Online published on 18 April, 2014. Abstract Background & Objectives: Squamous cell carcinoma of oral cavity is one of the leading causes of cancer related deaths in Indian subcontinent. The morbidity and mortality associated with the disease has not improved drastically due to lack of early diagnosis. Surgical biopsy, although regarded as a gold standard has limitations to be adopted as a screening tool for suspicious lesions. Recently citemorphological evaluation of scrape material collected from clinically suspicious lesions has emerged as a potential tool for detection of precancerous lesions at their incipient stage. The present study has attempted to evaluate the utility of brush cytology in detecting potentially malignant lesions of oral cavity in high risk population with histopathological correlation. Method: Scrape smears were collected from clinically suspicious lesions using commercially available cytobrush. Cytomorphological features were assessed and graded according to the system of Papanicolaou et al. Histopathological examination of biopsy specimen was done and correlate with cytological diagnosis. Appropriate statistical analysis was done for evaluation. Results: A total of fifty cases were studied. Majority of the patients were in 30–50 years age group with buccal mucosa being the most common site of involvement. Cytologically most of the smears belonged to class 3 and on histopathological examination moderate dysplasia was the most common diagnosis. The sensitivity, specificity and positive predictive value of brush cytology were 93%, 100% and 100% respectively. Conclusion: The results obtained in our study were comparable with those of similar studies making brush cytology an ideal screening tool for potentially malignant disorders of oral cavity. Top Keywords Brush Cytology, Oral Squamous Cell Carcinoma, Potentially Malignant Disorders. Top |