Cytomorphometric evaluation of buccal mucosa in tobacco chewers

Abstract

Objective

This study was done to compare cytomorphometrical parameters of the buccal mucosal cells of tobacco chewers and non-chewers by non-invasive painless method.

Study design

We measured and compared nuclear diameter (ND), cellular diameter (CD) and nucleo-cytoplasmic ratio (ND:CD) in the buccal mucosal cells of controls (Group A n=40) and cases (Group B n=40).

Results

The mean nuclear diameter (in ?m) of controls and cases was 7.6057±0.85434 and 10.2438±1.2453 respectively (p<0.001). The mean cellular diameter (in ?m) of controls and cases was 68.8247±4.41425 and 53.3243±3.70648 respectively (p<0.001). The ratio of mean nuclear diameter and mean cellular diameter of controls and cases was 0.111±0.01236 and 0.194±0.03095 respectively (p<0.001). On application of Unpaired‘t’ test, significant increase in nuclear diameter, significant decrease in cellular diameter and significant increase in nucleo-cytoplasmic ratio was observed in tobacco chewers as compared to tobacco non-chewers.

Conclusion

Changes in nuclear diameter and cellular diameter i.e. increase in nuclear diameter, decrease in cellular diameter and increase in nucleo-cytoplasmic ratio may be the earliest changes observed in buccal mucosal cells of cases chewing tobacco as compare to controls not chewing tobacco. This information may help in diagnosing the dysplasia and oral squamous cell carcinoma at early stage and monitoring its recurrence and follow-up.