title: Frequency of micronucleated exfoliated cells in oral lichen planus.
abstract: OBJECTIVE
  The purpose of this study was to determine the frequency of micronucleated exfoliated cells (MEC) in atrophic and erosive oral lichen planus (OLP).
  
  
  METHODS
  Twenty-two patients with atrophic and/or erosive OLP participated in this study. Lesions were scored ranging from 0 (no lesion) to 5 (large erosion) according to the severity and assessed for MEC. Exfoliated cells were obtained by swabbing the lesions and normal-appearing mucosa adjacent to the lesions. Swabbing was also performed in age-sex-matched normal individuals. Five hundred exfoliated cells were screened for nuclear anomalies including micronuclei, karyorhexis, pycnosis, and chromatid clumping.
  
  
  RESULTS
  The severity score of OLP ranged from 2 to 4 with the average of 2. The frequency of MEC in OLP patients was 3.79% and 0.37% in the lesions and normal-appearing mucosa, respectively. In normal individuals, the frequency of MEC was also 0.37%. Using a paired t-test, it was found that the MEC frequency in the OLP lesions was significantly elevated (p<0.01) as compared to that in normal-appearing mucosa adjacent to lesions and that in normal individuals. There were no statistically significant differences in the MEC frequency of the three severity scores as analyzed by Kruskal-Wallis one way analysis of variance on ranks (p>0.05).
  
  
  CONCLUSIONS
  This study revealed an increase in micronuclei in OLP lesions. The results indicate genotoxic damage in atrophic and erosive OLP.
authors.affiliation: Department of Oral Medicine, Faculty of Dentistry, Mahidol University, 6 Yothi Street, Rachathavee, Bangkok 10400, Thailand. dtwbj@mahidol.ac.th
authors.forename: Waranun
authors.initials: W
authors.lastname: Buajeeb
authors.forename: Petcharat
authors.initials: P
authors.lastname: Kraivaphan
authors.forename: Cholticha
authors.initials: C
authors.lastname: Amornchat
authors.forename: Terdphong
authors.initials: T
authors.lastname: Triratana
mesh_terms: D000328:Adult; D005260:Female; D006801:Humans; D017676:Lichen Planus, Oral / Q000235:genetics / Q000473:pathology*; D008297:Male; D015162:Micronucleus Tests; D008875:Middle Aged; D009061:Mouth Mucosa / Q000473:pathology*