Comparison of centrifuged liquid based cytology method with conventional brush cytology in oral lesions

Abstract

Abstract Background: Exfoliative cytology is the study of cells that are shed or scrapped off from mucosal surfaces. Centrifuged Liquid based cytology is a modified technique employed in the present study. Aims: To compare the utility of centrifuged liquid based cytology with conventional cytology in oral lesions after staining with Papanicolaou (PAP) stain. Materials and Methods: 50 cases of oral lesions comprising of normal mucosa (n=14), hyperkeratotic lesions (n=17), ulcerated lesions (n=7) and atrophic lesions (n=12) were selected. Two smears were obtained from the lesion using a cytological brush. One was spread on the slide using conventional technique, fixed immediately in 95% ethyl alcohol. Second sample was suspended in suspending solution for 10 minutes then spun in centrifuge for 10 minutes. The supernatant was poured off and the obtained cell pellet was used to prepare a smear by sedimentation and left to dry overnight. Both the smears were stained by PAP. The stained smears were compared for seven morphological parameters such as adequacy of smear, clear background, cell distribution, smear thickness, cell morphology, and presence of blood, inflammatory cells, microbial colonies and artifacts. Wilcoxon Signed rank test was used and P≤0.05 was considered statistically significant. Results: There was a statistically significant difference (P<0.001) between centrifuged liquid based cytology and conventional cytology when clear background was evaluated while in all other parameters the difference was not significant. Conclusion: Centrifuged Liquid based cytology showed clearer background than conventional brush cytology in oral lesions.