A cytomorphometric Evaluation of Oral Mucosal Cells in Type II Diabetics

The objective of the present study was to assess the effect of diabetes on buccal mucosa by using cytomorphometry and to emphasize its relevance as an additional tool to aid in the evaluation of oral mucosal changes in diabetes mellitus. The study Group consisted of 100 subjects divided into 50 control subjects (Group C) and 50 Type II diabetic subjects (Group D). We analyzed and compared between the groups the nuclear and cell morphometric features i.e. mean nuclear area (MNA), mean nuclear perimeter (MNP), mean of maximum nuclear diameter (Max-ND), mean of minimum nuclear diameter (Min-ND), mean cell area (MCA), mean cell perimeter (MCP), mean of maximum cell diameter (Max-CD), mean of minimum cell diameter (Min-CD) and nuclear to cell parameter ratio. Buccal epithelial cells of these individuals were collected with a brush and fixed smears were stained with Papanicolaou (PAP) stain and cytomorphometric analysis performed using Image J image analysis soft ware. In Group D, the nuclear parameters i.e. MNA, MNP, Max-ND, Min-ND were higher, while cell parameters i.e. MCA, MCP, Max-CD, Min-CD were lower as compared to Group C. The nuclear to cell parameter ratio were higher in Group D. Univariate analysis of variance (ANOVA) showed a significant group effect for nuclear parameters, cell parameters and ratio of nuclear to cell parameters. (p value <0.001). There is increase in nuclear parameters, decrease in cellular parameters and increase in ratio of nuclear to cellular parameters in smears from diabetics as compared to normal subjects. This study might contribute to the general understanding of the alterations in the cellular pattern of buccal mucosa cells in diabetic patients and can be used as an additional tool to aid in the evaluation of oral mucosal alterations in diabetes mellitus.