title: The use of quantitative cytology in identifying high-risk oral lesions in community practice.
abstract: OBJECTIVE
  This study evaluated whether quantitative cytology (QC) can disclose abnormal DNA content (aneuploidy) and abnormal nuclear morphology of high-risk potentially malignant disorders (PMDs) of the oral mucosa found in the community in reference to clinicohistopathologic features.
  
  
  METHODS
  A total of 171 patients at community-based clinic with suspicious oral lesions were evaluated with concurrent but independent histopathologic and QC assessments.
  
  
  RESULTS
  QC-positive results were associated with oral lesions with higher clinical risk factors: large size, nonhomogeneous surface texture, and located at high-risk anatomic sites. Only 3% of benign/reactive and 5% of low-risk PMDs were QC positive, while 92% of high-risk PMDs and 88% of squamous cell carcinomas (SCCs) were QC positive. The sensitivity and specificity of QC for detection of high-grade dysplasia/SCC were 89% and 97%.
  
  
  CONCLUSIONS
  QC could serve as an adjunctive tool for the detection of high-risk PMD/SCC requiring immediate clinical care.
authors.affiliation: Department of Dentistry, Vancouver General Hospital, British Columbia, Canada. dr.s.ng@opusoralhealth.ca
authors.forename: Samson P
authors.initials: SP
authors.lastname: Ng
authors.forename: Indervir S
authors.initials: IS
authors.lastname: Mann
authors.forename: Christopher
authors.initials: C
authors.lastname: Zed
authors.forename: Alexei
authors.initials: A
authors.lastname: Doudkine
authors.forename: Jasenka
authors.initials: J
authors.lastname: Matisic
mesh_terms: D000782:Aneuploidy; D001706:Biopsy; D002294:Carcinoma, Squamous Cell / Q000473:pathology; D002452:Cell Count; D002467:Cell Nucleus / Q000473:pathology; D048430:Cell Shape; D003581:Cytodiagnosis / Q000706:statistics & numerical data*; D004273:DNA, Neoplasm / Q000032:analysis; D004847:Epithelial Cells / Q000473:pathology; D005260:Female; D006801:Humans; D008297:Male; D008875:Middle Aged; D009061:Mouth Mucosa / Q000473:pathology; D009062:Mouth Neoplasms / Q000473:pathology*; D060787:Neoplasm Grading; D010157:Palatal Neoplasms / Q000473:pathology; D011230:Precancerous Conditions / Q000473:pathology*; D012189:Retrospective Studies; D012307:Risk Factors; D012680:Sensitivity and Specificity; D012907:Smoking; D014062:Tongue Neoplasms / Q000473:pathology
chemical_list: D004273:DNA, Neoplasm