title: Cytomorphometric analysis of the buccal mucosa of tobacco users.
abstract: OBJECTIVE
  This study has been carried out to assess the effect of tobacco smoking and of betel quid chewing with tobacco on buccal mucosa by cytomorphometry, in a south Indian population.
  
  
  METHODS
  Cellular diameter (CD) and nuclear diameter (ND) of exfoliated buccal squames obtained from clinically normal appearing buccal mucosa of tobacco smokers, betel quid with tobacco chewers, and those with a combined habit, stained by the Papanicolaou method, were measured. Non-users served as negative controls and oral squamous cell carcinomas in tobacco users served as positive controls. One way ANOVA test of the values obtained followed by multiple range comparison with Tukey-HSD procedure (at p=0.05) was carried out.
  
  
  RESULTS
  A statistically significant reduction in CD and increase in ND in smokers and those with a combined habit were observed.
  
  
  CONCLUSIONS
  The use of tobacco in the form of smoking influences the cytomorphology of buccal mucosa.
authors.affiliation: Department of Oral and Maxillo Facial Pathology, Meenakshi Ammal Dental College and Hospital, Maduravoyal, Chennai, Tamilnadu, India. einsbertin@gmail.com
authors.forename: T Bertin A
authors.initials: TB
authors.lastname: Einstein
authors.forename: B
authors.initials: B
authors.lastname: Sivapathasundharam
mesh_terms: D001114:Areca / Q000009:adverse effects; D002294:Carcinoma, Squamous Cell / Q000473:pathology; D002467:Cell Nucleus / Q000648:ultrastructure; D048429:Cell Size; D004396:Coloring Agents; D003584:Cytological Techniques; D004847:Epithelial Cells / Q000473:pathology; D005260:Female; D006801:Humans; D008297:Male; D009061:Mouth Mucosa / Q000473:pathology*; D009062:Mouth Neoplasms / Q000473:pathology; D012907:Smoking / Q000009:adverse effects / Q000473:pathology*; D014030:Tobacco, Smokeless / Q000009:adverse effects
chemical_list: D004396:Coloring Agents