Cytomorphometric Analysis of Oral Exfoliative Cells for Age Estimation

Abstract

INTRODUCTION:

The estimation of the age and sex of the human body is important to the investigators as it can reduce the time taken to compare the body with the missing person’s reports and find a possible match. This could tremendously improve the identification process which of high interest in forensic odontology.

AIM:

The aim of this study is to estimate the age of an individual by comparing the average cell size of their oral smears, GIMP 2.10 morphometric software.

MATERIALS AND METHODS:

The study sample included oral smears collected from 30 patients; 15 male and 15 female patients. Oral smears for each patient was taken from 6 sites; Right buccal mucosa, left buccal mucosa, junction of the hard and soft palate, dorsum surface of the tongue, floor of the mouth and lower labial region. The smears were subjected to papanicolaou stain. The stained smears were observed under a microscope for image analysis. The average cell size of the exfoliative cells was calculated using GIMP 2.10 image analysis software.

RESULTS:

The cytomorphometric analysis of oral smears from various age groups showed a decrease in cell size from 0.11mm/sq to 0.0677mm/sq.

CONLUSION:

Cytomorphometric analysis of exfoliated cells of oral mucosa using GIMP 2.10 image analysis software can serve as a potential alternative non-invasive procedure in evaluation of age of an individual compared to the other screening modalities, which are usually either expensive or invasive.