COMPARATIVE CYTOLOGY OF THE ORAL CAVITIES OF SNUFF USERS

OBJECTIVE: To determine the effects of smokeless tobacco (snuff) on th e epithelium of the oral cavity. STUDY DESIGN: Cytologic smears were t aken from the oval cavities of 22 snuff users and 19 control subjects. The samples were stained with the Papanicolaou method and accessed fo r cellularity, anucleated cells, micronuclei and broken egg nuclei. RE SULTS: An average of 7,624 cells per slide were found in the user grou p and 1,348 in the control. An average of 3,619 (47.5%) anucleated cel ls in the user group and 33.1 (2.5%) in the control were found per sli de. Users with lesions had a significantly higher rate of anucleation than those without lesions. A total of 216 micronuclei were found in t he user group and 46 in the control group. The broken egg nucleus tons commonly found in both groups. The broken egg phenomenon is described as a nucleus that is in two portions and connected by a thin band of Feulgen-negative material. CONCLUSION: Tile regular use gf snuff cause s loss of cell cohesion, hyperkeratosis and an increased incidence of micronuclei. The relationship of these conditions to the development o f oral cancer is unclear. The most likely anomaly that may be associat ed with carcinogenesis is the micronucleus.