Morphometric computer-assisted image analysis of oral epithelial cells in normal epithelium and leukoplakia.
BACKGROUND
There are very few studies documenting morphometric parameters of normal oral mucosa and leukoplakia. The present study was undertaken to establish the morphometric parameters of the parabasal and spinous cells of normal oral epithelium. Analysis of changes occurring in these cells in leukoplakia was also done.


METHODS
This study was conducted on tissue sections of clinically normal oral mucosa and leukoplakia. Morphometric analysis was done for parabasal and spinous cells. Statistical analysis was done using one way ANOVA and Mann-Whitney test.


RESULTS
Morphometric parameters were greater in the spinous cells than in parabasal cells in normal oral mucosa. Leukoplakia showed greater cellular and nuclear parameters than normal mucosa.


CONCLUSIONS
Normal oral epithelium showed site-wise difference in cell and nuclear measurements. Nuclear parameters showed a statistically significant change than cellular parameters in dysplasia. These changes were expressed in the earliest stage of transformation to dysplasia.
Raju Ragavendra
T
T
Department of Oral Pathology and Microbiology, People's Dental Academy, Madhya Pradesh, India. drraju_t@hotmail.com
Rammanohar
M
M
Sowmya
Kasetty
K
D002467:Cell Nucleus / Q000648:ultrastructure; D003593:Cytoplasm / Q000648:ultrastructure; D004847:Epithelial Cells / Q000473:pathology; D004848:Epithelium / Q000473:pathology; D005881:Gingiva / Q000473:pathology; D005887:Gingival Neoplasms / Q000145:classification / Q000473:pathology; D006801:Humans; D019044:Image Cytometry; D007091:Image Processing, Computer-Assisted / Q000379:methods*; D007972:Leukoplakia, Oral / Q000145:classification / Q000473:pathology*; D009061:Mouth Mucosa / Q000473:pathology*