title: Quantitative exfoliative oral cytology in iron-deficiency and megaloblastic anemia.
abstract: 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.
authors.affiliation: Department of Oral Pathology, University of Newcastle upon Tyne, England, U.K.
authors.forename: R I
authors.initials: RI
authors.lastname: Macleod
authors.forename: P J
authors.initials: PJ
authors.lastname: Hamilton
authors.forename: J V
authors.initials: JV
authors.lastname: Soames
mesh_terms: D000328:Adult; D000747:Anemia, Hypochromic / Q000473:pathology*; D000748:Anemia, Macrocytic / Q000473:pathology*; D000749:Anemia, Megaloblastic / Q000473:pathology*; D002610:Cheek; D004848:Epithelium / Q000473:pathology / Q000648:ultrastructure; D005260:Female; D006801:Humans; D007091:Image Processing, Computer-Assisted / Q000379:methods; D008297:Male; D008855:Microscopy, Electron, Scanning; D009061:Mouth Mucosa / Q000473:pathology* / Q000648:ultrastructure; D014059:Tongue