Quantitative cytomorphologic analyses of papanicolaou-stained smears from oral lichen planus

OBJECTIVE: To apply quantitative techniques to cytologic smears in order to improve the diagnostic sensitivity of cytology in the detection of maligna nt change in the oral cavity. STUDY DESIGN: Eighty-two patients with lesions of oral lichen planus were i nvestigated. A total of 247 Papanicolaou-stained buccal smears underwent nu clear and cytoplasmic area measurements using a TV image analyzer. RESULTS: The cytomorphologic results of this study suggest that lesions of oral lichen planus contain smaller cells and nuclei than those observed in clinically normal oral mucosal smears. There was a statistically significan t reduction in nuclear area (P<.001) and cytoplasmic area (P<.05)for the or al lichen planus smears. CONCLUSION: The TV image analysis system could provide a valuable method of quantifying cell changes in oral smears collected from oral mucosa as a me thod of monitoring lesios of oral lichen planus.