Cytomorphological Pattern of Sputum in Cigarettes Smokers in Khartoum State

Abstract

This is analytical case control study carried out in Khartoum state during the period from November 2008-March 2009. The study aimed to asses the cytomorphological pattern of sputum in cigarettes smokers using conventional cytological stain (papanicolaou stain) in addition to the evaluation of the role of Ag NORs in the identification of cytological atypia using silver-nitrate method. In this study 50 sputum samples from male cigarette smokers were collected as study group, the duration of smoking was 15 years or more, and the number of cigarette smoked is more than 10 cigarette per day, and they were without respiratory tract infections and previous history of lung diseases as test, and 50 samples of sputum from non smokers as control, their age between 22 and 65 years. Two smears were prepared from each specimen then stained using two different technique papanicolaou stain &silver-nitrate. Inflammatory cells were detected in both group as 46% acute inflammation and 4%chronic inflammation from smokers group, in non smokers acute Inflammation were detected in 1%, 3%chronic inflammation, with significantly no correlation in the severity of inflammation, and the smoking duration, and number of cigarette per day. Metaplastic changes were observed in 31%, with a significant correlation to the duration of smoking and number of cigarette per day in test group. Dysplastic changes were detect in 5% and also a significant correlation to the duration of smoking and number of cigarettes per day. No malignant cells were detected among the study groups. Ag NOR showed statistical significant difference between the mean of Ag NORs in non smokers 2.170 while it was 4.976 in smoker, and a significant correlation to the number of cigarette per day but not correlated with duration of smoking.