Cytopathological and chemico-physical analyses of smears of mucosa surrounding oral piercing.
OBJECTIVE
The aim of this comparative study was to analyze cytopathologically and chemico-physically the mucosa surrounding oral piercing to correlate results with adverse tissue signs.


METHODS
The tongue superficial mucosa of 15 young subjects (control group) and the superficial mucosa surrounding oral piercing of 15 young subjects (test group, TG) were smeared on slides, Papanicolaou stained and analyzed under the optical microscope. Some smears were prepared for (back-scattered) scanning electron microscope (SEM) and X-ray microanalysis to study piercing fragments.


RESULTS
Smears of TG displayed a variable extent of bacterial cytolysis of epithelial cells, fungi, hyperkeratosis, parakeratosis, granulocyte infiltration, calcium formations and bacterial flora; the four last statistically significant (P < 0.05). Foreign bodies surrounded by keratinocytes were detected under both light and SEM. X-ray microanalyses highlighted piercing alloy aggression, ion release and an inverse gradient of ion concentration inside keratinocytes.


CONCLUSIONS
The pathological findings in smears correlated with adverse effects of oral piercing. Ion release may be related to direct toxic effects and belated reactions because of metal sensitization. A strict regulation of piercing is warranted.
Lupi
S M
SM
Department of Anatomy and Histology, University of Modena and Reggio Emilia, Modena, Italy.
Zaffe
D
D
Rodriguez y Baena
R
R
Rizzo
S
S
Botticelli
A R
AR
D000328:Adult; D000428:Alcohol Drinking; D001419:Bacteria / Q000302:isolation & purification; D046288:Body Piercing; D002114:Calcinosis / Q000473:pathology; D004396:Coloring Agents; D003581:Cytodiagnosis; D004577:Electron Probe Microanalysis; D004847:Epithelial Cells / Q000473:pathology; D005260:Female; D005547:Foreign Bodies / Q000473:pathology; D005658:Fungi / Q000302:isolation & purification; D006098:Granulocytes / Q000473:pathology; D006801:Humans; D015603:Keratinocytes / Q000473:pathology; D007972:Leukoplakia, Oral / Q000473:pathology; D008297:Male; D008670:Metals / Q000032:analysis; D008855:Microscopy, Electron, Scanning; D009061:Mouth Mucosa / Q000737:chemistry / Q000382:microbiology / Q000473:pathology*; D012907:Smoking; D013997:Time Factors; D014059:Tongue / Q000473:pathology; D055815:Young Adult
D004396:Coloring Agents; D008670:Metals