Cytomorphometric analysis of buccal smears in cigrette smokers, passive and non-smokers using Methyl Green Pyronin stain

Objectives: The objective of the current study was to asses the cytomporphometric changes in buccal smears of cigrette smokers, passive and non-smokers using Methyl Green Pyronin stain.
Methods: This comparative study onsisted of 60 male subjects divided into three equal groups including active smokers (S), passive smokers (P) and non-smokers (N), of ages between 15-60yrs. Changes in cytomorphometric parameters such as cellular diameter (CD), nuclear diameter (ND) and nuclear to cytoplasmic ratio (N/C ratio) was assessed in buccal mucosal smears taken from clinically normal mucosa of active smokers, passive smokers and non-smoker subjects using exfoliative cytology followed by methyl green pyronin staining.
Results: The mean cellular diameter of active smokers, passive smokers and non-smokers was 55.90 μm, 48.25 μm and 41.36μm respectively. The mean nuclear diameter of active smokers, passive smokers and non-smokers were 14.6 μm, 11.46 μm and 8.6 μm respectively. There was significant progression in terms of mean N/C ratio from non-smokers to passive smokers to smokers. The one way ANOVA test showed significant results (p<0.001) for cellular diameter (CD), nuclear diameter (ND) and N/C ratio while Post Hoc Tukey test gave highly significant results for cellular diameter (CD) and N/C ratio i.e p<0.001.
Conclusions: This study demonstrates significant changes in oral epithelial cells detected through exfoliative cytology and cytomorphometry. Methyl green pyronin stain can help in the early detection of these cellular changes. This study also suggests significant cause effect relationship between smoking and cytomporphometric variables including cellular diameter (CD) and N/C ratio.