Cytomorphometric analysis of crack cocaine effects on the oral mucosa.
OBJECTIVE
This study assessed the effect of smoking crack cocaine on the nuclear area (NA), the cytoplasmic area (CA), and the nucleus-to-cytoplasm area ratio (NA/CA) of oral squamous epithelial cells.


METHODS
Oral smears were collected from clinically normal-appearing mucosa by liquid-based exfoliative cytology of 40 individuals (20 crack users and 20 nonusers) and analyzed for quantitative techniques using an image analysis system.


RESULTS
Mean values of NA for experimental and control groups were, respectively, 49.85 microm(2) and 62.68 microm(2) (P < .01). CA showed the following mean values: 1820.9 microm(2) (experimental) and 1780.8 microm(2) (control). NA/CA for the experimental group was 0.03; the control group was 0.04 (P < .01).


CONCLUSIONS
This study revealed that crack cocaine was able to induce significant changes on the oral epithelial cells. Since this illicit drug is normally used in association with other risk factors for oral cancer (tobacco and alcohol), crack cocaine abusers should have frequent preventive oral exams.
Woyceichoski
Iverson Ernani Cogo
IE
Department of Oral Pathology, School of Dentistry, Pontifical Catholic University of Paraná, Curitiba/PR, Brazil.
de Arruda
Elcy Pinto
EP
Resende
Luciane Grochocki
LG
Machado
Maria Angela Naval
MA
Grégio
Ana Maria Trindade
AM
Azevedo
Luciana Reis
LR
de Lima
Antonio Adilson Soares
AA
D000328:Adult; D016022:Case-Control Studies; D002467:Cell Nucleus / Q000187:drug effects; D048429:Cell Size / Q000187:drug effects; D002471:Cell Transformation, Neoplastic; D019970:Cocaine-Related Disorders / Q000473:pathology; D016578:Crack Cocaine / Q000009:adverse effects*; D003593:Cytoplasm / Q000187:drug effects; D004847:Epithelial Cells / Q000187:drug effects; D006801:Humans; D008297:Male; D009061:Mouth Mucosa / Q000166:cytology / Q000187:drug effects*
D016578:Crack Cocaine