Cytomorphometric Evaluation of Oral Exfoliated Cells − Its Correlation With Age of an Individual

Abstract

Introduction: Age is a vital tool in assessing the mental and physical growth of an individual. Exfoliative cytology, a non-invasive procedure, also has its potential implication in age assessment of an individual. This study aims to correlate and compare the average cell size from oral buccal smears of individuals of varying age groups using cytomorphometric analysis. Materials and Methods: In this study, 100 buccal smears were collected from normal individuals, dividing them into five age groups (Group 1: 10–20, Group 2: 21–30, Group 3: 31–40, Group 4: 41–50, Group 5: 50 and above). The collected smear samples were stained using papanicolau stain. The average sizes of the cells were measured using Dewinter’s image analysis software. Results: Cytomorphometry revealed a decrease in the average cell size as age increases. Analysis using Bonferonni and Post Hoc tests showed statistically significant decrease in the average cell size (P < 0.005). Conclusion: Cytomorphometric evaluation of exfoliated oral cells proves reliable tool for correlation of age. Cytomorphometric analysis of exfoliated cells of buccal mucosa serves a potential alternative non-invasive procedure in evaluation and correlation of age of an individual compared to the other screening modalities, which are usually either invasive or expensive.