Morphometric computer-assisted image analysis of oral epithelial cells in normal epithelium and leukoplakia.

Background: There are very few studies documenting morphometric parameters of normal oral mucosa and leukoplakia. The present study was undertaken to establish the morphometric parameters of the parabasal and spinous cells of normal oral epithelium. Analysis of changes occurring in these cells in leukoplakia was also done.

Methods: This study was conducted on tissue sections of clinically normal oral mucosa and leukoplakia. Morphometric analysis was done for parabasal and spinous cells. Statistical analysis was done using one way ANOVA and Mann-Whitney test.

Results: Morphometric parameters were greater in the spinous cells than in parabasal cells in normal oral mucosa. Leukoplakia showed greater cellular and nuclear parameters than normal mucosa.

Conclusion: Normal oral epithelium showed site-wise difference in cell and nuclear measurements. Nuclear parameters showed a statistically significant change than cellular parameters in dysplasia. These changes were expressed in the earliest stage of transformation to dysplasia.