Impact of Liquid-Based Cytology for Detection of Oral Cancer: A Cross-Sectional Study

Introduction: Oral cancer and oral potentially malignant disorders require early and accurate detection for timely intervention and management. Cytological techniques, including liquid-based cytology (LBC) and conventional cytology (CC), play a crucial role in diagnosing these conditions. This study aims to compare the effectiveness of LBC and CC using the modified CytoBrush ® by evaluating the distribution of stained cells, the quality of stain, and the number of cells present. Materials and Methods: A total of 30 individuals underwent bilateral CytoBrush ® cytology, with one side using liquid-based preparation and the other using the conventional method. Papanicolaou staining was performed on all slides. The cell distribution (even vs. patchy) and staining quality (good, fair, poor) were assessed, and statistical analysis was performed using the Chi-square test to compare qualitative parameters and kappa for interobserver variability. Results: LBC demonstrated significantly more even cell distribution compared to CC (93.3% vs. 24.1%, P < 0.001). LBC showed superior staining quality, with 56.7% achieving good quality compared to 34.7% in CC ( P < 0.001). Cell yield was significantly higher in LBC for both basal cells (124.53 ± 1.35 vs. 15.0 ± 1.6, P < 0.001) and parabasal cells (125.85 ± 1.35 vs. 21.0 ± 1.9, P < 0.001). Interobserver agreement was excellent ( κ = 0.8–0.9). Conclusion: LBC provides superior cell distribution and staining quality compared to CC, making it a more reliable and efficient method for oral brush biopsy evaluation. Its ease of use in clinical application and smear uniformity improve diagnostic accuracy in detecting cellular changes that are indicative of early malignant transformation.