Comparing the efficacy of Leishman–Giemsa Cocktail Stain, Giemsa Stain, and Papanicolaou Stain in Potentially Malignant Disorders: A Comparative Study.

Objective: To estimate the efficacy of the Leishman Giemsa cocktail stain, Giemsa stain, and Papanicolaou for the screening of potentially malignant lesions by exfoliative cytology. Study Design: Comparative study. Setting: Department of Oral Medicine and Oral Pathology, Isra Dental College, Faculty of Dentistry and Allied Sciences Hyderabad, Pakistan. Period: 1st February 2022 to 31st January 2023. Material & Methods: A total of 90 participants were enrolled in the study, 30 subjects of normal healthy individuals were categorized in Group-I and 60 patients with diagnosed potentially malignant lesions (Oral submucous Fibrosis, Oral Lichen Planus, and Leukoplakia) were categorized in Group II. Participants were advised to rinse their mouth with water and the sample was taken by moving a brush clockwise and anti-clockwise over mucosa and the surface of the lesion. Three smears were prepared from each sample, one was fixed with biofix spray and stained with Papanicolaou stain, and other two smears were air-dried and stained with Leishman Giemsa and Giemsa stain. Stained slides were observed under a microscope and the slides were interpreted. Results: In Group-I Leishman Giemsa cocktail stain was highly significant compared to Papanicolaou and Giemsa stain, the mean value of the Leishman Giemsa cytoplasmic stain was 1.16, Papanicolaou was 1.0 and Giemsa was 0.52. Whereas in group II, the mean score of cytoplasmic staining of the Leishman Giemsa cocktail was 1.16, Papanicolaou was 1.10 and Giemsa was 0.67. There was no significant difference found in the mean score of cytoplasmic staining of Group-I and Group II respectively. Conclusion: According to current research study results, the Leishman Giemsa cocktail stain is a better staining technique for the screening of potentially malignant lesions along with the Papanicolaou stain.