title: Cytomorphometric analysis of oral buccal mucosal smears in tobacco and arecanut chewers who abused with and without betel leaf.
abstract: BACKGROUND
  Tobacco in any form (smoking or chewing), arecanut chewing, and alcohol are considered to be the major extrinsic etiological factors for potentially malignant disorders of the oral cavity and for squamous cell carcinoma, the most common oral malignancy in India. An increase in nuclear diameter (ND) and nucleus-cell ratio (NCR) with a reduction in cell diameter (CD) are early cytological indicators of dysplastic change. The authors sought to identify cytomorphometric changes in ND, CD, and NCR of oral buccal cells in tobacco and arecanut chewers who chewed with or without betel leaf.
  
  
  METHODS
  Participants represented 3 groups. Group I consisted of 30 individuals who chewed tobacco and arecanut with betel leaf (BQT chewers). Group II consisted of 30 individuals who chewed tobacco and arecanut without betel leaf (Gutka chewers). Group III comprised 30 apparently healthy nonabusers. Cytological smears were prepared and stained with modified-Papanicolaou stain.
  
  
  RESULTS
  Comparisons between Groups I and II and Groups II and III showed that ND was increased, with P values of .054 and .008, respectively, whereas a comparison of Groups I and III showed no statistical significance. Comparisons between Groups I and II and Groups II and III showed that CD was statistically reduced, with P values of .037 and <.000, respectively, whereas comparison of Groups I and III showed no statistical significance. Comparisons between Groups I and II and groups II and III showed that NCR was statistically increased, with P values of <.000, whereas a comparison of Groups I and III showed no statistical significance.
  
  
  CONCLUSIONS
  CD, ND, and NCR showed statistically significant changes in Group II in comparison with Group I, which could indicate larger and earlier risk of carcinoma for Gutka chewers than in BQT chewers.
authors.affiliation: a Department of Oral and Maxillofacial Pathology , MES Dental College , Perinthalmanna , Kerala , India.
authors.forename: Ahammed
authors.initials: A
authors.lastname: Noufal
authors.forename: Antony
authors.initials: A
authors.lastname: George
authors.forename: Maji
authors.initials: M
authors.lastname: Jose
authors.forename: Mohasin Abdul
authors.initials: MA
authors.lastname: Khader
authors.forename: Cheriyanthal Sisupalan
authors.initials: CS
authors.lastname: Jayapalan
mesh_terms: D000293:Adolescent; D000328:Adult; D000368:Aged; D001114:Areca / Q000009:adverse effects*; D053145:Cell Nucleus Size / Q000187:drug effects; D048429:Cell Size / Q000187:drug effects; D005260:Female; D006801:Humans; D008297:Male; D008875:Middle Aged; D009061:Mouth Mucosa / Q000187:drug effects* / Q000473:pathology*; D009754:Nuts / Q000009:adverse effects; D018515:Plant Leaves / Q000009:adverse effects; D055815:Young Adult; D014026:Nicotiana