Performance of the DNA-Citoliq liquid-based cytology system compared with conventional smears

Comparative study of the results from conventional cervico-vaginal oncotic cytology and liquid-based cytology

OBJECTIVE

To compare two oncotic cervical cytology techniques, the conventional and the liquid-based cytology, in low risk patients for uterine cervical cancer.

METHODS

Comparative prospective study with 100 patients who came to their annual gynecological exam, and were submitted simultaneously to both techniques. We used the McNemar test, with a significance level of p < 0.05 to compare the results obtained related to adequacy of the smear quality, descriptive diagnosis prevalence, guided biopsy confirmation and histology.

RESULTS

Adequacy of the smear was similar for both methods. The quality with squamocolumnar junction in 93% of conventional cytology and in 84% of the liquid-based cytology had statistical significance. As for the diagnosis of atypical cells they were detected in 3% of conventional cytology and in 10% of liquid-based cytology (p = 0.06). Atypical squamous cells of undetermined significance were the most prevalent abnormality. The liquid-based cytology performance was better when compared with colposcopy (guided biopsy), presenting sensitivity of 66.7% and specificity of 100%. There was no cytological and histological concordance for the conventional cytology.

CONCLUSIONS

Liquid-based cytology had a better performance to diagnose atypical cells and the cytohistological concordance was higher than in the conventional cytology.

Preclinical alterations of oral epithelial cells in contact with orthodontic appliances

AIM

This study evaluated the behavior of oral epithelial cells in contact with orthodontic appliances.

METHODS

Oral epithelial cells of clinically normal buccal mucosa were obtained by liquid-based exfoliative cytology from 22 orthodontic patients. The following regions were evaluated: a) oral mucosa exposed to friction from orthodontic brackets; b) oral mucosa exposed to friction from the tube on the orthodontic band, and c) oral mucosa not exposed to friction (control area). Nuclear (NA) and cytoplasmic (CA) areas and NA/CA ratio were assessed by an image analysis system. Cell morphology and cellularity were also analyzed by Papanicolaou technique.

RESULTS

The NA of the cells in contact with orthodontic brackets and bands were smaller than the control area. Cells in contact with the brackets showed the greatest reduction in CA in comparison with the cells subjected to friction from the tube, and the control group. Smears classified as type I predominated in all regions analyzed, although type II were predominant, together with superficial epithelial cells, mainly in the oral mucosa in contact with the band tube.

CONCLUSION

Preclinical alterations in the epithelial cells of oral mucosa, caused by orthodontic appliances, are reduction in NA, increase in cell keratinization and inflammatory features, especially in the band tube area.