A Study of Imprint Cytology with Cytomorphometry as an Important Diagnostic Tool in Oropharyngolaryngeal Lesions

Objective. Non-neoplastic and neoplastic mucosal lesions from orophayngolaryngeal region constitute a major health problem in developing countries. Carcinoma of this region is the commonest neoplasm in male in our country. The study was aimed at testing for the accuracy of cytological diagnosis as well as morphometry analysis and compared with histopathology in order to see whether the correlation exists between the three of them. The overall goal is the early diagnosis of these lesions in a cost-effective manner. Material and methods. A total 40 cases were selected having symptoms of ulceration and growth in these regions. The tissues were collected at the time of operation for imprint cytology and morphometry of the epithelial cells. Thereafter, the tissues were processed routinely for histopathology and immunohistochemistry (p53 and PCNA). Findings from cytology, cytomorphmetry were compared to those from histology with immuno-histochemisty Results. Statistically significant difference was found between non-neoplastic, premalignant, and malignant lesions. Cyto-logical diagnosis was confirmed by histological findings along with immunohistochemistry. p53 expression, and PCNA staining was more in malignant lesions. Conclusion. The imprint cytology and morphom-etry can be an important tool for early diagnosis and determination of therapeutic protocol in oral, pharyngeal, and laryngeal lesions, especially if they are correlated with histology and immunohistochemistry.