[Preliminary study on relationship between syndrome differentiation of esophageal cancer and changes of exfoliated cells of tongue coating].

Exfoliated cells of tongue coating of 63 esophageal cancer (EC) cases have been investigated by applying exfoliate cytologic examination, which showed that abnormal cornified cells were commonly seen while they were less in the patients of EC than those in the healthy group, and their difference was significant (P < 0.05), It showed an increase mainly in the number of pro-cornified cells in the patient of the Qi-Yang Deficiency group, an increase mainly in completely cornified cells in the Yin Deficiency and an increase in both pro-cornified cells and completely cornified cells in Phlegn-Dampness and blood Stasis patients. The difference among four groups was significant (P < 0.05). The changes of exfoliated cells of tongue coating provided an objective index for the early diagnosis of EC.