title: Oral rinse as a simpler approach to exfoliative cytology: a comparative study.
abstract: BACKGROUND
  Oral rinse is a novel method that can be used to detect dysplasia in potentially malignant disorders and malignant oral lesions in resource challenged areas. A study was undertaken to compare the quality of the normal smears prepared with the oral rinse and that of the wooden tongue spatula.
  
  
  METHODS
  One hundred five normal subjects were selected for the study. Two smears were prepared from clinically normal mucosa using an oral rinse and further two smears were scraped from clinically normal buccal mucosa using a wooden spatula.
  
  
  METHODS
  The smears were graded for cell yield, dispersion and cellular clarity on a three-point scale by two observers. The results were analyzed using Mann Whitney non parametric test.
  
  
  RESULTS
  The Oral rinse was found to be significantly more efficient than the wooden spatula, in terms of cell yield (p<0.0001), cell dispersion (p =.0052) and cellular detail (p<0.0001).
  
  
  CONCLUSIONS
  The study showed that the Oral rinse is an effective method for use in exfoliative cytology of normal oral mucosa.
authors.affiliation: PhD Scholar, A.B. Shetty Memorial Institute of Dental Sciences, Nitte University, Derlakatte Mangalore-575018, Karnataka, India. Also Reader, Department of Oral Pathology and Microbiology, KVG Dental College and Hospital , Kurunjibag, Sullia- 574327, Karnataka, India.
authors.forename: Shaila
authors.initials: S
authors.lastname: Mulki
authors.affiliation: HOD and Professor, Department of Oral Pathology and Microbiology, AB Shetty Memorial Institute of Dental Sciences , Deralkatte, Mangalore, Karnataka, India .
authors.forename: Pushparaj
authors.initials: P
authors.lastname: Shetty
authors.affiliation: Professor, Department of Periodontics, KVG Dental College and Hospital , Kurunjibag, Sullia-574327, Karnataka, India .
authors.forename: Prakash
authors.initials: P
authors.lastname: Pai
keywords: Exfoliative cytology; Oral mucosa; Oral rinse