Cytomorphometry of normal exfoliated gingival cells: An analytical study

Introduction: Gingiva is lined by stratified squamous epithelium. One of the most common types of carcinoma in the world is oral cancer. Gingival cancers are a common type of oral neoplasm. In order to compare normal tissue with pathological smears using exfoliative oral cytology with morphometry, a baseline must be established. A study was conducted to obtain nuclear area (NA), cytoplasmic area (CA), and N:C ratio-nuclear: Cytoplasmic ratio of exfoliated normal gingival cells and to correlate it with healthy individuals by their age and gender. Methodology: Exfoliated gingival squamous cell smears were obtained from 200 subjects (100 males, 100 females) belonging to age groups <20 years, 21–40 years, 41–60 years, and >60 years. Smears were fixed and stained by routine Hematoxylin and Eosin staining procedure. With the use of both ocular micrometer and stage micrometer different cellular parameters were measured. Student's t-test was used for statistical analysis. Results: There were significant differences in NA, CA, and N:C ratio with age regardless of gender. Different age groups of males showed significant variations (P < 0.0001) in all the above parameters. The same was true for different age groups of females. In terms of NA, CA, and N:C ratio, the difference between both genders was significant regardless of age. Conclusion: Gingival smears showed age and sex-linked changes in NA, CA, and nuclear: Cytoplasmic ratio. It might serve as a standard for these variables when comparing similar measurements based on pathologic smears of malignant or premalignant nature.