Alteration in Apparently Normal Buccal Mucosal Cells of Smokers and Nonsmokers using Silver Staining Nucleolar Organising Regions: A Study of 75 Cases

BACKGROUND: Smoking is considered to be initiators of dysplastic changes in the oral mucosa. AIM OF THE STUDY: The aim of this study was to determine and compare the alteration in apparently normal buccal mucosal cells in smokers and non –smokers due to the effect of tobacco by assessing silver stained nucleolar organiser regions. (AgNOR). MATERIALS AND METHODS: The study comprised of 75 subjects divided into two groups with 25 subjects having smoking habit and 50 subjects who were non smokers. Cytological smears were taken from each subject with the help of a cytological brush. The smear was wet fixed and stained with AgNOR and assessed for nucleolar organising regions.50 cells were counted in each slide. RESULTS: Unpaired T-test and Pearson’s R correlation test was applied. Cytological changes in smokers revealed an increase in mean AgNOR in comparison with non-smokers. CONCLUSION: Tobacco smoking produce alterations in apparently normal buccal mucosal cells, which may cumulatively lead to carcinomatous changes. Results of these changes may be used as an educational tool in cessation of smoking in the general population