title: Cytogenetic abnormalities in exfoliated oral mucosal cells and their association with oral cancer.
abstract: OBJECTIVE
  To assess cytogenetic abnormalities through quantification of micronuclei, broken eggs, and karyorrhexis, in cells from normal oral mucosa of individuals exposed to carcinogens (alcohol and tobacco) and adjacent to leukoplakias and squamous cell carcinomas.
  
  
  METHODS
  The sample was composed of 40 subjects aged > 30 years, divided into four groups: control, alcohol/tobacco, leukoplakia, and squamous cell carcinoma. For control and alcohol/tobacco groups, cells were collected from lower lip, tongue border, and floor of the mouth. For leukoplakia and squamous cell carcinoma groups, mucosa contralateral and adjacent to the lesions were analyzed. Cytologic smears were stained with the Feulgen reaction. A blind observer analyzed 1,000 cells per slide to quantify micronuclei, broken eggs, and karyorrhexis.
  
  
  RESULTS
  The leukoplakia group showed an increased number of micronuclei compared to controls (p = 0.0016) and the alcohol/tobacco group (p = 0.0048) and also increased broken eggs compared to the alcohol/tobacco group (p = 0.0172). Similarly, the carcinoma group presented more micronuclei compared to controls (p = 0.0462) and more broken eggs compared to the alcohol/tobacco group (p = 0.0104).
  
  
  CONCLUSIONS
  The assessment of cytogenetic abnormalities micronuclei and broken eggs may be useful for monitoring individuals exposed to risk factors for developing oral cancer.
authors.affiliation: Department of Oral Pathology, School of Dentistry, Universidade Federal do Rio Grande do Sul, RS, Brazil.
authors.forename: Ana Carolina Amorim
authors.initials: AC
authors.lastname: Pellicioli
authors.forename: Fernanda
authors.initials: F
authors.lastname: Visioli
authors.forename: Luciana Adolfo
authors.initials: LA
authors.lastname: Ferreira
authors.forename: Chris Krebs
authors.initials: CK
authors.lastname: Danilevicz
authors.forename: Vinicius Coelho
authors.initials: VC
authors.lastname: Carrard
authors.forename: Pantelis Varvaki
authors.initials: PV
authors.lastname: Rados
mesh_terms: D000328:Adult; D000428:Alcohol Drinking / Q000235:genetics / Q000473:pathology; D002294:Carcinoma, Squamous Cell / Q000235:genetics* / Q000473:pathology; D002467:Cell Nucleus / Q000473:pathology; D002869:Chromosome Aberrations; D006801:Humans; D007972:Leukoplakia, Oral / Q000235:genetics* / Q000473:pathology; D008297:Male; D048629:Micronuclei, Chromosome-Defective; D015162:Micronucleus Tests; D009061:Mouth Mucosa / Q000473:pathology / Q000502:physiology*; D009062:Mouth Neoplasms / Q000235:genetics* / Q000473:pathology; D012907:Smoking / Q000235:genetics / Q000473:pathology