Comparative Cytomorphometric Study of Exfoliated Squamous Buccal Cells among Patients with Iron Deficiency Anaemia and Healthy Individuals in Saurashtra, Gujarat, India

Abstract

Introduction: Cytology is a fast, simple, non invasive, and bloodless procedure. Cytology can be useful in cases where biopsy is contraindicated or not needed, such as in systemically compromised patients, inaccessible areas, recurrent malignancies and mass screening. The most common nutritional disorder in the world is iron deficiency and it is more prevalent in India. Exfoliative cytology is becoming increasingly recognized as a standard technique for screening oral pathologies like anaemia. Aim: To compare the Nucleus Diameters (ND), the Cytoplasmic Diameters (CD), and the Nucleus/Cytoplasmic ratio (N/C) in cytological buccal smears of iron deficiency anaemic patients and with normal healthy individuals. Materials and Methods: The case-control study was conducted in Department of Anatomy, G.G hospital connected MP Shah Government Medical College, Jamnagar, Gujarat, India, from August 2013 to February 2016, which included 50 healthy individuals and 50 clinically diagnosed patients of iron deficiency anaemia. Exfoliated buccal smears stained with routine Haematoxyline and Eosin staining technique. With the use of ocular micrometer, CD, ND and N/C ratio were calculated. All the parameters were statistically evaluated by using Student t-test. Results: The mean value of nuclear diameter 11.34±0.58 μm and N/C ratio (0.24±0.02) of buccal mucosa was greater while cytoplasmic diameter 46.57±2.03 μm was lesser in iron deficiency anaemia when compared with healthy individuals. A significant difference was not found when comparing different age groups, as well as male versus female cases and male versus female controls. Comparing cases and controls by gender, however produced significant statistical results. Conclusion: Statistically significant difference was found between iron deficiency anaemia patients and normal healthy individuals regarding changes in various parameters of buccal squamous cells. In the case of iron deficiency anaemia, oral exfoliative cytological techniques could be used as an alternative non invasive diagnostic tool.