CYTOLOGICAL EXAMINATION IN THE DIAGNOSIS OF PATHOLOGICAL PROCESSES OF THE HEAD AND NECK IN CHILDREN

Cytological examination, based on the microscopic study of the structural features of individual cells as well as the cellular composition of biological substrates, makes it possible to assess the morphological characteristics of cellular elements under normal conditions and in pathological states. Objective: to determine the effectiveness of cytological examination in diagnosing pathological processes of the head and neck and in evaluating the effectiveness of selected treatment methods in children. Materials and methods. For an objective assessment of treatment outcomes in acute purulent lymphadenitis and acute alveolitis, wound exudate samples were collected. In cases of exacerbation of chronic parenchymatous parotitis, parotid gland secretion was obtained. The prepared smears were subsequently stained using the Romanowsky–Giemsa method. A total of 59 cytological examinations were performed: 22 in patients with acute purulent lymphadenitis, 12 in patients with acute alveolitis, and 25 in cases of exacerbation of chronic parenchymatous parotitis. Results. Analysis of the obtained cytograms demonstrated the effectiveness of phase-based application of multicomponent ointments in the complex treatment of purulent wounds of the soft tissues in the maxillofacial region. The results also made it possible to determine approaches for optimizing the treatment of acute alveolitis and confirmed the effectiveness of the proposed комплекс of therapeutic measures for exacerbations of chronic parenchymatous parotitis. Conclusion. The obtained findings allow us to conclude that cytological examination is a method of choice in the diagnosis of various pathological processes and therefore requires broader application in pediatric dental practice. However, it should be emphasized that cytological analysis serves as an additional diagnostic method and does not replace the need for careful correlation of its results with other diagnostic findings and comprehensive analysis of the clinical symptom complex of the disease.