Study of Cytomorphological Pattern of Buccal Mucosa among Al Qat Chewers in Sana’a City (Yemen)

Abstract

This is a descriptive study(case -control) conducted in Sana’a city in Yemen, during the period from March to August 2011.This study aimed to study the cytomorphological pattern of buccal mucosa among al qat chewers using cytological methods. The samples were collected from 200 individuals divided as follows: 100 individuals were al qat chewers as a case group and 100 individuals were healthy and non al qat chewers as a control group. Their ages ranged between 20 to 68 years and they are all males. Buccal smears were prepared fixed and stained by using papanicolaou stain and examined under light microscope. The cytological assessment among study group revealed the following findings: 15(7.5%) dyskaryosis of the case, hence no dyskaryosis was detected among control. 26(13%) inflammatory cells were detected in 18(9%) of case and in 8(4%) in control. These findings indicating that al qat chewer is a risk factor for oral cytological changes and this was found statistically significant (P. value < 0.05). The study found a significant relation between cytological changes in buccal mucosa and duration and intensity of al qat chewing (P. value < 0.05). This study concluded that al qat chewing causing cytological changes in buccal mucosa, these changes depend on the duration and intensity of al qat chewing.