Cytomorphometric analysis of squames obtained from normal oral mucosa and lesions of oral leukoplakia and squamous cell carcinoma.

Cell and nuclear diameters (CD and ND) were measured in squames obtained from normal buccal mucosa and lesions of oral leukoplakia and squamous carcinoma (SCC) also from buccal mucosa. The study groups consisted of Group 1: normal buccal mucosa (n = 40); Group 2: lesions with no epithelial dysplasia (n = 58); Group 3: lesions with epithelial dysplasia (n = 27); and Group 4: SCC lesions (n = 51). The mean CD and ND values were: Group 1: 51.78 (+/- 0.11) and 8.36 (+/- 0.49); Group 2: 45.73 (+/- 0.16) and 8.31 (+/- 0.68); Group 3: 41.32 (+/- 0.13) and 9.04 (+/- 0.46); Group 4: 38.58 (+/- 0.11) and 10.10 (+/- 0.56) microns, respectively. Correlation between the ND and CD was positive for Group 1 (r = 0.78, P < 0.05) and Group 2 (r = 0.33, P < 0.05). There were no significant correlations in Groups 3 and 4. ANOVA showed significant differences (P < 0.05) for CD between all four groups. Except between Groups 1 and 2, the ND was significantly different (P < 0.05) between all groups. The results indicate that ND and CD could possibly be sensitive parameters in the diagnosis of oral premalignant and malignant lesions.