Quantitative exfoliative oral cytology in iron-deficiency and megaloblastic anemia.

A study was undertaken to ascertain if there were any morphometric or morphologic changes in exfoliated oral squames in either iron-deficiency or vitamin B12-deficiency states. The results revealed a significant (P less than .05) increase in nuclear area and a significant alteration in nuclear/cytoplasmic ratio in vitamin B12 deficiency; both returned to normal following replacement therapy. No changes were seen with iron deficiency anemia or non-vitamin B12 megaloblastic anemia. Ultrastructurally, the surface morphology showed similar features in all groups, with the plasma membrane forming complex folds (microplications) in three patterns: branching, parallel and network. The microplication widths and interplication distances were remarkably constant in both control and study groups, regardless of pattern.