A phase contrast cytomorphometric study of squames of normal oral mucosa and oral leukoplakia: Original study.

UNLABELLED: Oral leukoplakia represents the most common potentially malignant oral disorder, representing 85% of such lesions. The worldwide prevalence of leukoplakia is 1.5- 4.3%. Leukoplakia is often associated with carcinogenic exposures, such as from use of tobacco, alcohol or betel nut. The level of risk for malignant transformation of leukoplakia is associated with lesion histology. The overall malignant transformation rates for dysplastic lesions range from 11% to 36%, depending on the length of follow-up. Exfoliative cytology is a simple and minimally invasive method. Phase contrast microscope, an essential tool in the field of biology and medical research provides improved discrimination of cellular details. AIMS: To study and compare the cytomorphological and cytomorphometric features of squames obtained from the mucosa of normal individuals, tobacco habituates with and without clinically evident leukoplakia. To assess the role of phase contrast microscopy as an alternative and easy method of cytological evaluation of wet and unstained smears. MATERIALS AND METHODS: Fifty cases from each group were taken. Fixed, unstained smears were viewed under phase contrast microscope and were evaluated morphologically and morphometrically for nuclear and cellular diameters. RESULTS: The study showed a significant increase in the mean nuclear diameter and decrease in the mean cellular diameter. CONCLUSION: Cytomorphometric changes could be the earliest indicators of cellular alterations. This indicates that there could be a cause-effect relationship between tobacco and quantitative alterations.

Cysticercosis masquerading as a buccal mass.

Cysticercosis caused by Taenia solium is endemic in many parts of the world. We present a case of one such lesion which presented itself as an asymptomatic buccal swelling. We present the life cycle of T. solium, the endemic nature of this infection, and the relevance of histological examination to arrive at a diagnosis.

Clear cell unicystic ameloblastoma.

Clear cell differentiation in unicystic ameloblastoma with inclusion of many other histologic variants in the same tumor is a very rare occurrence. Here, we report a case of a well-circumscribed large mandibular swelling in a 22 - year old female. The lesion was histopathologically diagnosed as unicystic ameloblastoma which showed multiple histologic patterns and clear cell differentiation. The tumor was treated with surgical enucleation and chemical cauterization. A follow up of 20 months has shown no recurrence after initial surgery.

Myxoglobulosis of lower lip: Report of two cases.

In this paper, we present two case reports of myxoglobulosis, in a 24-year-old female and a 40-year-old male patient who came to our hospital with a chief complaint of painless swelling of the lower lip of approximately 6 months duration. A study of two case reports has been given here. In these patients, histological examination of the surgically excised tissue was carried out. Histopathological examination showed an extravasation mucocele with the lumen exhibiting unique globular organizations of mucin surrounded by granulation tissue capsule and lacking an epithelial lining. Our two cases are possibly an analogue of myxoglobulosis, a rare variant of the appendical mucocele. Thus, though rare, the possibility of occurrence of myxoglobulosis in cystic lesions of the lip should be considered. The prognosis is regarded better as compared to the other types of mucoceles with low recurrence rate due to good host response and globular organizations of mucin. However, follow- up of these cases and more such cases is required to confirm the prognosis. The need for study of many such cases to confirm the etiology, pathogenesis and biologic nature of this variant is being felt.