Nuclear area and Feulgen DNA content of normal buccal mucosal smears

Malignant cells usually have an abnormal DNA content demonstrable by cytophotometry of Feulgen stained tissue. The diagnostic reliability of the technique is reduced because some malignant cells have a normal Feulgen DNA content. If Feulgen DNA content can be combined with measurements of additional cytological characteristics known to vary in malignancy, reliable diagnostic criteria may be forthcoming. In this study, Feulgen DNA content and nuclear area were estimated in 50 squames from the buccal mucosa in each of 14 young adults. Nuclear Feulgen DNA content was determined using an M85 microdensitometer and nuclear area was measured using a Reichert MOP image analyser. In each specimen, Feulgen DNA content was consistent with a nonreplicating cell population. Although nuclear area varied in each specimen, the variation in mean nuclear area among the sample of 14 was not statistically significant. It is concluded that nuclear area provides an accurate baseline against which future measurements on abnormal tissue can be compared.