Cytomorphologic patterns of Pap and PAS-stained oral exfoliative cytology smears in adult Saudi diabetic patients as compared to healthy controls

Introduction

Diabetes mellitus (DM) is one of the most common metabolic disorders worldwide and 425 million people were estimated to have diabetes by 2017. Oral manifestations reflect the metabolic control of diabetes. Exfoliative cytology using Papanicolaou (Pap) and periodic acid Schiff (PAS) stains is a practical technique to evaluate oral epithelial cytomorphologic changes in diabetes.

Aim

This study analyzes the cytomorphologic changes and the glycogen content in exfoliated oral epithelial cells among diabetic patients as compared to healthy controls using Pap and PAS stains to verify the utility of exfoliative cytology as adjunct to diagnosis, follow up or screening of diabetes.

Subjects and Methods

Eighty-nine participants; 38 adult diabetic patients (case group) and 51 age-matching nondiabetics (control group) were enrolled in the study after fulfilling appropriate inclusion and exclusion criteria. Sampling and staining procedures were performed using routine protocols. Slides were observed by two pathologists and categorized as inflammatory, dyskaryotic and negative. Glycogen content was expressed as PAS negative or +, ++, and +++ positive.

Results

The difference between the diabetics and the controls was statistically significant regarding inflammatory, dyskaryotic/nuclear changes and glycogen content and staining intensity. Other observed finding in diabetic patient smears included binucleation, polychromic, and/or vacuolated cytoplasm.

Conclusions

Cytomorphologic changes of oral epithelial cells reflect the complex pathological mechanisms by which DM affects cellular metabolism and function. Cytomorphologic patterns of Pap and PAS-stained oral exfoliative cytology smears can be helpful for diagnosis, follow up as well as for screening for diabetes in high prevalence communities.

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