Abstract

EXFOLIATIVE CYTOLOGY: AN ADJUVANT IN DIAGNOSING EARLY LESIONS

Sweta Saravanan, *Dr. M. Sathya Kumar, Dr. K.T. Magesh, Dr. R. Aravindhan and Dr. A. Sivachandran

Abstract

The cause-effect relationship of tobacco chewing to oral malignancy is well known. Although the clinical signs and symptoms may be absent or unapparent, early changes in the oral mucosal cells can be detected using the simple technique of exfoliative cytology. The review aims at studying the changes observed in the mucosal cells of tobacco chewers. The dysplastic changes of the cells are observed with various parameters. Also the recent advances of exfoliative cytology in the detection of various disease conditions have been emphasized.

Keywords: Exfoliative cytology, tobacco chewers, dysplasia.