Hijazi M, Jentsch H, Al-Sanabani J, Tawfik M, Remmerbach TW. Clinical and cytological study of the oral mucosa of smoking and non-smoking qat chewers in Yemen.
Clin Oral Investig 2015;
20:771-9. [PMID:
26319978 DOI:
10.1007/s00784-015-1569-2]
[Citation(s) in RCA: 9] [Impact Index Per Article: 0.9] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 06/05/2015] [Accepted: 08/13/2015] [Indexed: 12/18/2022]
Abstract
OBJECTIVE
The study was conducted to investigate the role of qat and smoking habits on the prevalence of visible and cytological abnormalities in the oral mucosa among Yemenites.
METHODS
We recruited 30 non-smoking and 30 smoking Yemenites chewing qat unilaterally for at least 5 years. We inspected oral cavities for the presence of lesions and took brush biopsies from the buccal mucosa/gingiva of the chewing/non-chewing region.
RESULTS
All visible oral lesions were flat and homogeneous, and cytological changes were detected frequently. Among both non-smokers and smokers, white lesions and cytological changes were detected in 77% of all cases. On the chewing area, the proportion with white lesions ranged--depending on anatomical area and smoking status--between 47 and 93% and was significantly more frequent than on the non-chewing side (range 3-47%). The proportion of regions with changes was similar in non-smokers and smokers. Kappa statistics for "interobserver" agreement between visual inspection and cytological specimens of brush biopsies was at best fair (≤0.25).
CONCLUSIONS
The high prevalence of visible lesions and cytological abnormalities among qat chewers was independent of smoking status.
CLINICAL RELEVANCE
The moderate level of agreement between visual inspection and exfoliative cytology demonstrates the still challenging clinical management of chronic qat chewers, though brush biopsies including adjuvant techniques like DNA cytometry may support the clinical decision-making process in future.
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