Exfoliative cytology and electron microscopy in the diagnosis of hairy leukoplakia.

The diagnosis of lesions clinically suggestive of hairy leukoplakia was assessed by light and electron microscopic examination of cytologic smears. We found exfoliative cytology to be a simple and noninvasive technique that can confirm the clinical diagnosis of hairy leukoplakia. Our results suggest that electron microscopy may be more sensitive and reliable than light microscopy in confirming the clinical diagnosis of hairy leukoplakia.