Assessment of Cytological changes in Buccal Mucosa among Al-Qat Chewers

Abstract

l ABSTRACT This is a case control study; conducted in Hajjah city in Yemen during the period from May 2005-Dec 2007 in order to assess the cytological changes in buccal mucosa among Al-qat users by the use of cytological methods. The study assessed the cytological changes in the buccal mucosa of 300 subjects. Of whom, 150 were Al-qat users (cases), and 150 subjects were non Qat users (controls). Tobacco users were excluded form both cases and controls. Buccal scrapes were taken for preparation of smears and subsequently stained using Pap procedures. Analysis of the cytological smears identified mild cytological atypical changes among 6(4%) of the cases, hence no cytological atypia was detected among controls. Additionally, keratosis was revealed among 24(16%) of the cases and absent among controls. Theses findings indicating that Qat use is a risk factor for oral cytological changes, and this was found to be statistically significant (p<0.005). Of the 67(44.6%) subjects with inflammatory infiltrate, 53(35.3%) were cases and 14(9.3%) were controls. Of the 13(8.6%) that showed bacterial infection, 8(5.3%) were detected among cases and 5(3.3%) among controls. Benign

degenerative changes among 8(5.3%) of the cases and absent among controls. Al-qat chewing can cause cytological changes in buccal mucosa, this cytological changes increasing with increasing of duration of Qat use. The relation between cytological changes and factors such as age and duration of Al-qat use need further assessment. Oral exfolaitive cytology can be a useful tool for investigation of oral lesions and can be applied for oral screening programs for at risk population. In view of the lack of studies that used cytological methods to assess oral mucosal lesions reported from Yemen, similar studies are recommended.