Oral exfoliative cytology – A technical appraisal in oral diseases

Abstract

Oral exfoliative cytology is one of the easy, simple, economical and non-cumbersome diagnostic adjunct. It involves examining the exfoliated buccal cells for alterations in cellular and nuclear features. It offers the advantage of being useful in less resource setting areas. Though associated with many false results, the newer technological advancements have proven its diagnostic efficiency. Oral exfoliative cytology can readily be used as adjunct to disease diagnosis, however, it cannot replace biopsy.