Nuclear features in different grades of epithelial dysplasia in leukoplakia: A computer assisted microscopic study

CONTEXT: Abnormalities in nuclear morphology are very frequently seen in dysplasia, such as nuclear area, diameter, shape, number of nucleoli and membrane outline. The purpose of this study was to observe and compare the nuclear features in different grades of epithelial dysplasia in leukoplakia and to evaluate the use of Feulgen stain for observing the nuclear features in oral epithelial dysplasia in leukoplakia. Seventy paraffin embedded tissue section (20 mild, 20 moderate, 20 severe dysplasia cases and 10 control specimens) were analyzed for nuclear morphology using Feulgen stain under trinocular research microscope. Statistically significant results were obtained with P > 0.001, when intergroup comparison was done except in case of nuclear area and diameter between mild and moderate dysplasia. Nuclear features reflect cell's biological potential and its morphometry was found to be a useful tool for differentiating different grades of dysplasia.