Evaluation of staining methods for cytologic diagnosis of oral lesions.
OBJECTIVE
To compare the efficacy ofPapanicolaou, hematoxylin-eosin (H-E), Leishman and periodic acid-Schiff (PAS) staining for cytologic diagnosis of oral lesions.


METHODS
Patients from the Discipline of Stomatology, São José dos Campos Dental School, from the wards of Hosapital Heliópolis and from the dentistry outpatient clinic of the University Hospital, University of São Paulo Medical School, with the following diseases, were selected: erythematous candidiasis (n=9), pseudomembranous candidiasis (n=10), squamous cell carcinoma (n=19), herpes simplex (n=8), paracoccidioidomycosis (n=8) and pemphigus vulgaris (n=1).


RESULTS
The different staining methods were compared regarding the quality of definition of cytoplasmic and nuclear morphologic characteristics and the identification of bacteria, fungi, inflammatory cells and secretions. Papanicolaou and H-E staining were considered better methods. In cases of fungal infections, PAS staining is useful and should be applied as a complementary method.


CONCLUSIONS
Within the limitations of this study, it can be concluded that the cytologic diagnosis of oral lesions along with different staining methods is a useful tool for oral diagnosis.
Almeida
Janete Dias
JD
Department of Biosciences and Oral Diagnosis, São José dos Campos Dental School, São Paulo State University, São José dos Campos, São Paulo, Brazil. janete@fosjc.unesp.br
Lima
Celina Faig
CF
Brandão
Adriana Aigotti Haberbeck
AA
Cabral
Luiz Antonio Guimarães
LA
D002177:Candidiasis / Q000473:pathology*; D002294:Carcinoma, Squamous Cell / Q000473:pathology*; D003581:Cytodiagnosis; D003945:Diagnosis, Oral; D004801:Eosine Yellowish-(YS); D006416:Hematoxylin; D006561:Herpes Simplex / Q000473:pathology*; D006801:Humans; D009059:Mouth Diseases / Q000175:diagnosis*; D010229:Paracoccidioidomycosis / Q000473:pathology*; D010503:Periodic Acid-Schiff Reaction; D013194:Staining and Labeling / Q000379:methods*; D014626:Vaginal Smears
D004801:Eosine Yellowish-(YS); D006416:Hematoxylin