Abstract:
This is a descriptive analytical case control study was conducted
in Yemen Amran city in the period between Jull 2010 and Jull
2013 to detect cytological atypical changes in buccal mucosa
among khat users. A total of 599 individuals were investigated,
of whom 499 were khat chewers (cases) and 100 were non-khat
users (controls). The cytological smears were obtained from
buccal
mucosa
using
wooden
tongue
depressor,
and
participants underwent the Papanicolaou stain for cytological
changes and AgNOR staining for evaluation of the mean number
of AgNOR dots per nucleus. A significant correlation between
khat use and oral cytological changes was found among cases
compared to controls. Cytological atypia were verified among
25(5%) of the cases compared to 1(1%) of controls, (P= 0.02).
Hence, keratinization was identified in 143(28.7%) of the cases
compared
to
11(11%)
of
controls,
(P=
0.000).
Acute
inflammatory cells was identified in 55(11%) of the cases
compared to 4(4%) of controls, (P= 0.03). Viral infection was
observed in 53(10.6%) of the cases compared to 4(4%) of
controls, (p= 0.02). Fungal infection ( Actinomyces israelii,
Aspergillus and monilia) was observed in 16(3.2%) of the cases
compared to 1(1%) of controls, (p= 0.05). Also a significant
relation between oral epithelial atypia and duration, intensity of
khat plant chewing. Statistical analyses revealed a greater
mean number of AgNORs per nucleus in (cases) khat chewers
(3.24) compared to (1.36) in non khat users (controls) (P=
0.000). This study concluded that the khat chewers a risk factor
caused cytological changes in oral mucosa and this cytological
changes
particular
oral
epithelial
atypia
associated
with
duration and intensity of khat chewing. In addition to the mean
AgNORs count is a useful indicator for cellular proliferation
activity in oral epithelium and for prediction of the risk of
exposure to certain carcinogenic elements that may induce oral
cancer.
