Comparison of Morphometric Parameters in Suprabasal Cells in Epithelial Hyperplasia, Leukoplakia and Squamous Cell Carcinoma: an Image Analysis

Introduction: Computerized image analysis (CIA) based assessment of routine H and E staining pattern enables objective interpretation and quantification for differential diagnosis of the state of pathology elucidated by the tissue being investigated. Aim and objectives: The aim of this study was to establish the morphometric parameters of normal oral epithelial cells in the supra-basal cell layers. Material and methods: This was a comparative study conducted on H and E stained tissue sections from epithelial hyperplasia, dysplasia, squamous cell carcinoma and normal oral mucosa. The Morphometric analysis of Images captured using digital camera under 10x magnifications was done using image analyzer software, IMAGE PROPLUS 4.1. The software automatically calculated cell and nuclear area with manually traced cells. The N/C ratio was calculated manually. Results: Quantification of suprabasal cells gave accreditation for identification of cell layers. Morphometric parameters showed significant variations to differentiate grades of dysplasia and sites of oral epithelium. Conclusion: The simple, inexpensive and easy morphometric analysis method can make the histomorphological study of tissues with premalignant lesions a more objective and practically applicable one for the early detection of cancer. Thus, morphometric analysis could serve as a discriminatory model and help in more accurate assessment of lesions which are highly proliferating and dysplastic and their malignant potential.