Ramaesh T, Mendis BRRN, Ratnatunga N, Thattil RQ: Cytomorphometric analysis of squames obtained from normal oral mucosa and lesions of oral leukoplakia and squamous cell carcinoma. J Oral Pathol Med 1998; 27: 83–6. © Munksgaard, 1998. Cell and nuclear diameters (CD and ND) were measured in squames obtained from normal buccal mucosa and lesions of oral leukoplakia and squamous carcinoma (SCC) also from buccal mucosa. The study groups consisted of Group 1: normal buccal mucosa (n= 40); Group 2: lesions with no epithelial dysplasia (n= 58); Group 3: lesions with epithelial dysplasia (n= 27); and Group 4: SCC lesions (n= 51). The mean CD and ND values were: Group 1: 51.78 (± 0.11) and 8.36 (± 0.49); Group 2: 45.73 (± 0.16) and 8.31(± 0.68); Group 3: 41.32 (± 0.13) and 9.04 (± 0.46); Group 4: 38.58 (± 0.11) and 10.10 (± 0.56) urn, respectively. Correlation between the ND and CD was positive for Group 1 (r= 0.78, P < 0.05) and Group 2 (r= 0.33, P < 0.05). There were no significant correlations in Groups 3 and 4. ANOVA showed significant differences (P < 0.05) for CD between all four groups. Except between Groups 1 and 2, the ND was significantly different (P < 0.05) between all groups. The results indicate that ND and CD could possibly be sensitive parameters in the diagnosis of oral premalignant and malignant lesions.

The effect of tobacco use on the buccal mucosa has been assessed by cytomor‐phometry. Cell and nuclear diameters (CD, ND) of exfoliated oral squames were measured in tobacco smokers (S), betel chewers with tobacco (C) and those with a combined habit (S + C). Non‐users (NU) served as controls. The mean CD values in S, C, S + C and NU were: 50.8 (± 0.47), 49.39 (± 0.48), 49.12 (±0.47) and 51.87 (± 0.76) urn, and the mean ND values were: 8.83 (± 0.07), 8.61 (± 0.08), 8.72 (± 0.10) and 8.33 (± 0.09) um, respectively. The least significant difference procedure (LSD at P= 0.05) showed a significant reduction for CD in C and S + C and an increase for ND in all three habit groups, compared to the controls. This study shows that the use of tobacco influences the cytomorphology of the normal buccal mucosa. Betel chewing with tobacco influences the ND and CD, while smoking influences only the ND.

The eosinophil cell has been related as a prognostic indicator for cancers. However, its exact function in tumour behaviour is still not clearly defined. In the oral cavity the presence of eosinophils can be a favourable prognostic indicator as well as it may be associated with a poor prognosis. In this short review, we briefly summarize the role of the eosinophils in the general context of immunoregulation and its relation to oral squamous cell carcinoma.

Our results suggest that eosinophils can be considered an indicator of invasion in OIN, helping in cases of difficult diagnosis.