title: Exfoliative cytology in screening for malignant and premalignant lesions in the buccal mucosa.
abstract: OBJECTIVE
  To test the efficacy of exfoliative cytology in the detection of oral premalignant and malignant lesions.
  
  
  METHODS
  Cytological diagnosis of lesions of the buccal mucosa assessed using histopathological diagnosis of the same lesions as the gold standard.
  
  
  METHODS
  Patients with buccal lesions clinically diagnosed as leukoplakia (n = 91) and squamous cell carcinoma (SCC, n = 59), and healthy subjects (n = 40) in whom buccal mucosa appeared clinically normal.
  
  
  METHODS
  Oral and Maxillo-facial Unit, General Hospital, Kandy and Department of Pathology, Faculty of Medicine, University of Peradeniya.
  
  
  RESULTS
  A sensitivity of 77%, specificity of 100% and accuracy of 92% were obtained for leukoplakia. SCC gave a sensitivity of 94%, specificity of 100% and an accuracy of 95%.
  
  
  CONCLUSIONS
  Oral exfoliative cytology is a useful method for detecting oral premalignant and malignant lesions. Anucleated squames in a smear is non-diagnostic.
authors.affiliation: Department of Basic Sciences, Faculty of Dental Sciences, University of Peradeniya.
authors.forename: T
authors.initials: T
authors.lastname: Ramaesh
authors.forename: N
authors.initials: N
authors.lastname: Ratnatunga
authors.forename: B R
authors.initials: BR
authors.lastname: Mendis
authors.forename: S
authors.initials: S
authors.lastname: Rajapaksa
mesh_terms: D002294:Carcinoma, Squamous Cell / Q000175:diagnosis; D002610:Cheek; D003581:Cytodiagnosis; D006801:Humans; D007972:Leukoplakia, Oral / Q000175:diagnosis*; D009061:Mouth Mucosa / Q000473:pathology*; D009062:Mouth Neoplasms / Q000175:diagnosis*; D011230:Precancerous Conditions / Q000175:diagnosis*; D012680:Sensitivity and Specificity