Conventional cytology is a rapid chair-side method for diagnosis, but it relies on laborious fixing and staining protocols. As cytology specimens are transparent, it is very hard to visualize them under a bright-field microscope without staining. Quantitative phase imaging techniques have opened up an interesting and potential diagnostic method for volumetric three-dimensional (3-D) visualization of the transparent specimens without any need for sample preparations. We explore the use of digital holographic microscopy in clinical application of oral cytology for the 3-D visualization of buccal cells with high contrast without any additional sample preparations. We also propose nuclear to cytoplasmic (N / C) volumes as a much more accurate parameter for identification of multinucleate and actively dividing cells. We quantify the cellular volumes, and N / C ratios for 203 buccal cells taken from five healthy volunteers to clinically validate the technique and compare them with the traditional N / C area ratios as well as the histology standards. The mean N / C area and volume ratios are found to be 0.0322 ± 0.0149 and 0.0648 ± 0.0286, respectively. Our approach highlights the dawn of a new method for a label-free/nondestructive volumetric oral cytology evaluation, with high potential for exploration of suspicious oral lesions, in subjects with chronic habits such as alcoholism and tobacco use. |
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CITATIONS
Cited by 4 scholarly publications.
Cell biology
Digital holography
Microscopy
Holography
Holograms
Visualization
Optical engineering