Cytomorphometric analysis of crack cocaine effects on the oral mucosa.

Abstract

OBJECTIVE:

This study assessed the effect of smoking crack cocaine on the nuclear area (NA), the cytoplasmic area (CA), and the nucleus-to-cytoplasm area ratio (NA/CA) of oral squamous epithelial cells.

STUDY DESIGN:

Oral smears were collected from clinically normal-appearing mucosa by liquid-based exfoliative cytology of 40 individuals (20 crack users and 20 nonusers) and analyzed for quantitative techniques using an image analysis system.

RESULTS:

Mean values of NA for experimental and control groups were, respectively, 49.85 microm(2) and 62.68 microm(2) (P < .01). CA showed the following mean values: 1820.9 microm(2) (experimental) and 1780.8 microm(2) (control). NA/CA for the experimental group was 0.03; the control group was 0.04 (P < .01).

CONCLUSION:

This study revealed that crack cocaine was able to induce significant changes on the oral epithelial cells. Since this illicit drug is normally used in association with other risk factors for oral cancer (tobacco and alcohol), crack cocaine abusers should have frequent preventive oral exams.

• Authors: Iverson Ernani Cogo Woyceichoski, Elcy Pinto de Arruda, Luciane Grochocki Resende, Maria Angela Naval Machado, Ana Maria Trindade Grégio, Luciana Reis Azevedo, Antonio Adilson Soares de Lima
• Journal: Oral surgery, oral medicine, oral pathology, oral radiology, and endodontics (Oral Surg Oral Med Oral Pathol Oral Radiol Endod) Vol. 105 Issue 6 Pg. 745-9 (Jun 2008) ISSN: 1528-395X [Electronic] United States
• PMID: 18299233 (Publication Type: Journal Article)

Chemical References

• Crack Cocaine

Topics

• Adult
• Case-Control Studies
• Cell Nucleus (drug effects)
• Cell Size (drug effects)
• Cell Transformation, Neoplastic
• Cocaine-Related Disorders (pathology)
• Crack Cocaine (adverse effects)
• Cytoplasm (drug effects)
• Epithelial Cells (drug effects)
• Humans
• Male
• Mouth Mucosa (cytology, drug effects)