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. 2009 May 16:6:8.
doi: 10.4103/1742-6413.51332.

Assessment of oral cytological changes associated with exposure to chemotherapy and/or radiotherapy

Hussain G Ahmed  1 , Dalia Ai Elemirri
Affiliations

Assessment of oral cytological changes associated with exposure to chemotherapy and/or radiotherapy

Hussain G Ahmed et al. Cytojournal. .

Abstract

Background: Death from cancer is high in Sudan, with low survival rates, as most of the patients present with advanced disease. Most patients receive high and repeated doses of radiotherapy or chemotherapy. The aim of this study was to investigate the feasibility of using cytological evaluation to detect oral epithelial atypia amongst these patients. As a part of the continuous development in cancer therapy, this case control study was conducted in Khartoum, Sudan.

Methods: Papanicolaou stained oral mucosal cells were obtained from 100 cancer patients receiving radiotherapy and/or chemotherapy (ascertained as cases), 50 cancer patients not exposed to either therapy (control 1), and 50 apparently healthy individuals (control 2).

Statistical analysis: The data was analyzed by using a computer SPSS program, to obtain the Chi-square test.

Results: Without prior knowledge of the subjects' group, oral epithelial atypia was detected in 7% of the cases. Inconclusive features of cytological atypia were observed in 13% of the cases. Atypia was not observed in both the control groups. Inflammatory infiltrate and viral cytopathic effects were identified in 32% and 8% of the cases respectively.

Conclusion: Cytological atypia, viral infections, and inflammatory infiltrates were detected after exposure to radiotherapy and/or chemotherapy.

Keywords: Atypia; chemotherapy; cytology; mucosa; oral; radiotherapy.

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Figures

Figure 1
Figure 1
Buccal smear from a patient with head and neck cancer non-exposed to chemotherapy or Radiotherapy. Normal epithelial cells. Pap. × 10
Figure 2
Figure 2
Buccal smear from a patient receiving Radiotherapy with head and neck cancer. Moderate cytological atypia. Increased keratinization with increased N/C ratio and background containing inflammatory cells. Pap. Stain 40×
Figure 3
Figure 3
Buccal smear from a patient receiving chemotherapy with carcinoma of hypopharynx. Moderate cytological atypia. Increased keratinization with increased N/C ratio, Hyperchromasia and background containing inflammatory cells. Pap stain ×40
See this image and copyright information in PMC

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