Eosinophils and oral squamous cell carcinoma: a short review.

The eosinophil cell has been related as a prognostic indicator for cancers. However, its exact function in tumour behaviour is still not clearly defined. In the oral cavity the presence of eosinophils can be a favourable prognostic indicator as well as it may be associated with a poor prognosis. In this short review, we briefly summarize the role of the eosinophils in the general context of immunoregulation and its relation to oral squamous cell carcinoma.

The effect of tobacco smoking and of betel chewing with tobacco on the buccal mucosa: a cytomorphometric analysis.

The effect of tobacco use on the buccal mucosa has been assessed by cytomorphometry. Cell and nuclear diameters (CD, ND) of exfoliated oral squames were measured in tobacco smokers (S), betel chewers with tobacco (C) and those with a combined habit (S+C). Non-users (NU) served as controls. The mean CD values in S, C, S+C and NU were: 50.8 (+/-0.47), 49.39 (+/-0.48), 49.12 (+/-0.47) and 51.87 (+/-0.76) microm, and the mean ND values were: 8.83 (+/-0.07), 8.61 (+/-0.08), 8.72 (+/-0.10) and 8.33 (-/+ 0.09) microm, respectively. The least significant difference procedure (LSD at P=0.05) showed a significant reduction for CD in C and S+C and an increase for ND in all three habit groups, compared to the controls. This study shows that the use of tobacco influences the cytomorphology of the normal buccal mucosa. Betel chewing with tobacco influences the ND and CD, while smoking influences only the ND.

Diagnosis of oral premalignant and malignant lesions using cytomorphometry.

In this study cytomorphometry has been applied to smears collected from the buccal mucosa. Normal cells and the cells collected from lesions with no dysplasia, dysplasia and squamous. cell carcinoma were differentiated using discriminant analysis based on nuclear and cell diameter values. Cytomorphometrically the dysplastic and malignant cells were well discriminated from the normal cells. A sensitivity of 89%, specificity of 89.7%, positive predictive value of 80% and negative predictive value of 94.4% were obtained when comparing non-dysplastic lesions with dysplastic lesions.

Cytomorphometric analysis of squames obtained from normal oral mucosa and lesions of oral leukoplakia and squamous cell carcinoma.

Cell and nuclear diameters (CD and ND) were measured in squames obtained from normal buccal mucosa and lesions of oral leukoplakia and squamous carcinoma (SCC) also from buccal mucosa. The study groups consisted of Group 1: normal buccal mucosa (n = 40); Group 2: lesions with no epithelial dysplasia (n = 58); Group 3: lesions with epithelial dysplasia (n = 27); and Group 4: SCC lesions (n = 51). The mean CD and ND values were: Group 1: 51.78 (+/- 0.11) and 8.36 (+/- 0.49); Group 2: 45.73 (+/- 0.16) and 8.31 (+/- 0.68); Group 3: 41.32 (+/- 0.13) and 9.04 (+/- 0.46); Group 4: 38.58 (+/- 0.11) and 10.10 (+/- 0.56) microns, respectively. Correlation between the ND and CD was positive for Group 1 (r = 0.78, P < 0.05) and Group 2 (r = 0.33, P < 0.05). There were no significant correlations in Groups 3 and 4. ANOVA showed significant differences (P < 0.05) for CD between all four groups. Except between Groups 1 and 2, the ND was significantly different (P < 0.05) between all groups. The results indicate that ND and CD could possibly be sensitive parameters in the diagnosis of oral premalignant and malignant lesions.

Exfoliative cytology in screening for malignant and premalignant lesions in the buccal mucosa.

OBJECTIVE: To test the efficacy of exfoliative cytology in the detection of oral premalignant and malignant lesions. DESIGN: Cytological diagnosis of lesions of the buccal mucosa assessed using histopathological diagnosis of the same lesions as the gold standard. SUBJECTS: Patients with buccal lesions clinically diagnosed as leukoplakia (n = 91) and squamous cell carcinoma (SCC, n = 59), and healthy subjects (n = 40) in whom buccal mucosa appeared clinically normal. SETTING: Oral and Maxillo-facial Unit, General Hospital, Kandy and Department of Pathology, Faculty of Medicine, University of Peradeniya. RESULTS: A sensitivity of 77%, specificity of 100% and accuracy of 92% were obtained for leukoplakia. SCC gave a sensitivity of 94%, specificity of 100% and an accuracy of 95%. CONCLUSIONS: Oral exfoliative cytology is a useful method for detecting oral premalignant and malignant lesions. Anucleated squames in a smear is non-diagnostic.

Gathering data on oral mucosal diseases: a new approach.

A new approach to gathering epidemiological data on oral mucosal diseases has been tested with encouraging results in Sri Lanka. Its main advantage is that it does not depend on the examiner's ability to make a diagnosis, so it can be carried out by non-professionals such as dental students.

Adenomatoid odontogenic tumour. A survey of 21 cases from Sri Lanka.

A series of 21 cases of adenomatoid odontogenic tumour is reported from Sri Lanka. They formed 8.6% of odontogenic tumours, excluding odontomes, in the 10-year period reviewed. 85% of cases occurred in the anterior maxilla. Most cases were diagnosed clinically as dentigerous cysts. There were no recurrences following conservative surgery in follow-up periods ranging from 2 to 11 years.