Assessment of Cytological Changes in Oral Mucosa of Smokers in Khartoum City

Abstract

This study was conducted in Khartoum state in the period from may to December 2007 to evaluate the cytological changes in buccal mucosa among smokers. The study assessed the cytological atypia among 100 smokers (cases) and 50 non smokers (controls). Cytological smears obtained by a wooden tongue depressor. The samples were dyed with Papanicolaou stain. Analysis of the smears identified atypia in 6 (6%) of the cases and no atypia detected among apparently healthy individuals. Inflammatory infiltrate was detected among 26 (26%) of smokers, and 5 (10%) among controls, and this found to be statistically significant (P-value<0.05). Smoking is a risk factor for occurrence of oral cancer. Exfoliative cytology appears to be of value in detections of premalignant conditions and different type of inflammatory and benign degenerative changes.