Comparative Evaluation of Buccal Exfoliated Cells in Individuals with Diabetes Mellitus and Healthy Controls: A Cytomorphometric Analysis

BACKGROUND: Diabetes mellitus is the third most frequent cause of mortality and morbidity worldwide. Patients with diabetes exhibit a variety of oral symptoms, and hence the early detection of this condition can be addressed by a dentist. AIM: The current study aimed to study the cytomorphometric alterations of buccal exfoliated cells in individuals with type II diabetes mellitus. METHODOLOGY: The study included thirty diabetics and thirty healthy controls. The smears were obtained from the buccal mucosa and stained with Papanicolaou stain and hematoxylin and eosin stain. The presence of inflammatory cells, microbial carriage, nuclear enlargement, and perinuclear halo and binucleation were examined on the slides. Cellular and nuclear parameters were quantitatively measured using Image J software. Statistical analysis was done using SPSS software, and the Student’s t-test was employed. RESULTS: No inflammatory cells or microbes were observed in Group I individuals; however, the perinuclear halo was observed in 16.6% and binucleated cells in 3.3% of the controls. Inflammatory cells, consisting mainly of neutrophils and lymphocytes were seen in 40%, microbial carriage in 26.6%, perinuclear halo in 73.3%, and binucleated cells in 36.6% of the diabetic patients. The mean nuclear diameter, area, and nuclear-cytoplasmic ratio were significantly high in diabetic patients when compared to healthy controls. CONCLUSION: Oral exfoliated mucosal cells of patients with diabetes mellitus exhibit distinct cytomorphometric alterations such as increased nuclear diameter, nuclear area, and nuclear-cytoplasmic ratio.