Comparative study of conventional exfoliative cytology and centrifuged liquid‑based cytology in oral leukoplakia and oral squamous cell carcinoma patients

Abstract

Background: This study aims to compare the efficacy between conventional exfoliative
cytology (EC) and centrifuged liquid‑based cytology (CLBC) in control, leukoplakia, and oral
squamous cell carcinoma (OSCC) patients. Oral leukoplakia and oral cancer require an early
definitive diagnosis for better prognostic outcome. Oral EC, a minimally invasive technique that
involves the examination of desquamated cells from the tissue surfaces used as a method of early
diagnosis. CLBC is a modified technique that is used to achieve improved quality of the cytology
findings.
Materials and Methods: A comparative study was done in 30 subjects, of which, 10 cases from
control group, 10 oral leukoplakia, and 10 OSCC cases. These subjects were selected according to
the appropriate inclusion and exclusion criteria. The cases in each group underwent conventional as
well as CLBC. The comparison was carried out between these groups with respect to the cellular
and background stromal factors. Appropriate qualitative evaluation of the samples was collected and
statistical analysis was done using the Chi‑squared test. The significance level of value was P < 0.05.
Results: Significant results were obtained for certain parameters such as cellular overlap clear
background, uniform distribution in control, leukoplakia, and OSCC with a P = 0.004**, P = 0.001**,
P = 0.006** using CLBC.
Conclusion: CLBC is better and give clearer vision as compared to conventional cytology and can be used in the early diagnosis.
Key Words: Cytology, early diagnosis, leukoplakia, oral cancer

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R. Jayabalan: Pubmed,Google Scholar