title: Genotoxic effects of dental panoramic radiograph in children.
abstract: This study was completed to evaluate chromosomal damage (micronucleus) and cellular death in exfoliated buccal mucosa cells taken from healthy children following exposure to panoramic radiation during dental radiography.
  
  
  METHODS
  Twenty children who underwent panoramic dental radiography for diagnostic purposes were included. Cytological preparations were stained with Feulgen stain, identified under light microscopy. Micronuclei, apoptotic nuclear alterations (condensed chromatin, karyorrhexis, pyknosis) and necrosis (karyolysis) were scored.
  
  
  RESULTS
  showed no statistically significant differences in children's micronucleated oral mucosa cells before and after panoramic dental X-Ray exposure. On the other hand, there was a statistically significant increase in nuclear alterations closely related to genotoxicity such as condensed chromatin, karyorrhexis and pyknosis, while karyolysis of oral mucosal cells did not show significant increase after panoramic X-Ray exposure.
  
  
  CONCLUSIONS
  Dental panoramic radiography may not be a factor that induces chromosomal damage, but is able to promote genotoxicity in children.
authors.affiliation: Faculty of Dental Medicine, Al-Azhar University for Girls, Cairo, Egypt. emanashkmm@yahoo.com
authors.forename: Eman A
authors.initials: EA
authors.lastname: El-Ashiry
authors.forename: Eman A
authors.initials: EA
authors.lastname: Abo-Hager
authors.forename: Abeer S
authors.initials: AS
authors.lastname: Gawish
mesh_terms: D000293:Adolescent; D017209:Apoptosis / Q000528:radiation effects; D016923:Cell Death / Q000528:radiation effects; D002467:Cell Nucleus / Q000528:radiation effects; D002648:Child; D002675:Child, Preschool; D002843:Chromatin / Q000528:radiation effects; D004249:DNA Damage; D005260:Female; D005500:Follow-Up Studies; D006801:Humans; D008297:Male; D048629:Micronuclei, Chromosome-Defective / Q000528:radiation effects; D009061:Mouth Mucosa / Q000166:cytology / Q000528:radiation effects*; D009336:Necrosis; D011862:Radiography, Panoramic / Q000009:adverse effects*
chemical_list: D002843:Chromatin