title: Electronic Cigarette: Role in the Primary Prevention of Oral Cavity Cancer.
abstract: BACKGROUND
  Cigarette smoke has been identified as the main cause of oral cavity carcinoma. Recently, the electronic cigarette, a battery-operated device, was developed to help smokers stop their tobacco addiction. This study aimed to evaluate the safety of electronic cigarettes and to establish the possible role of such device in the primary prevention of oral cavity cancer.
  
  
  METHODS
  This study included 65 subjects who were divided into three groups (smokers, e-cigarette smokers, and nonsmokers). All subjects were submitted to cytologic examination by scraping of oral mucosa. The slides were microscopically evaluated through a micronucleus assay test.
  
  
  RESULTS
  The prevalence of micronuclei was significantly decreased in the e-cigarette smoker group. There were no statistically significant differences in micronuclei distribution according to the type of cigarette, gender, and age.
  
  
  CONCLUSIONS
  The use of electronic cigarettes seems to be safe for oral cells and should be suggested as an aid to smoking cessation.
authors: Otolaryngology-Head and Neck Surgery, Department of Health Sciences, Magna Graecia University of Catanzaro, Catanzaro, Italy.
authors: Teresa
authors: T
authors: Franco
authors: Otolaryngology-Head and Neck Surgery, Department of Health Sciences, Magna Graecia University of Catanzaro, Catanzaro, Italy.
authors: Serena
authors: S
authors: Trapasso
authors: Department of "G.F. Ingrassia", Section of Anatomic Pathology, University of Catania, Catania, Italy.
authors: Lidia
authors: L
authors: Puzzo
authors: Otolaryngology-Head and Neck Surgery, Department of Health Sciences, Magna Graecia University of Catanzaro, Catanzaro, Italy.
authors: Eugenia
authors: E
authors: Allegra
keywords: e-cigarette; electronic cigarettes; micronuclei; oral cytology; oral squamous cell carcinoma