Background: Tobacco contains chemical constituents which are known as carcinogens and have been attributed as a major risk factor to cause oral cancer .Quantitative parameters such as nuclear size, cell size, nuclear to cytoplasmic ratio, nuclear shape, nuclear discontinuity, optical density and nuclear texture could be early indicators of malignant change. Aim & Objective: To evaluate the cytomorphometric changes in clinically normal buccal mucosa of habitual tobacco smokers and chewers and to assess their level of awareness towards adverse effects of tobacco on health. Material & Methods: The present study included 30 individuals each of habitual tobacco smokers and chewers in the study group of an age range 15-70 years and 15 age matched individuals without tobacco habit in the control group. Questionnaire was used to record the subject data and habits. Following questionnaire, smears were prepared from buccal epithelial cells, stained with Papanicolaou stain and cytomorphometric analysis performed using Image J analysis software. Results: The mean of above nuclear and cell morphometric parameters and their ratio were found to be statistically significant by Univariate analysis of variance (ANOVA) with p value being < 0.001. No significant difference was observed on comparison of reasons for getting habituated between tobacco smokers and chewers as well as on comparison of knowledge pertaining to the health problems between smokers and control group.  Conclusions: There was progressive increase in nuclear area, decrease in cytoplasmic area and increase in nuclear to cytoplasmic ratio in smears from tobacco smokers and chewers, as compared with control group.
Key words: Cytomorphometry, oral mucosa, tobacco chewing, smoking.

Received:14 February, 2019                              Revised: 24 February, 2019                     Accepted: 27 February, 2019

Corresponding author: Dr. Surbhi Jain, M.D.S Oral Pathology.

This article may be cited as: Jain S, Metgud R, Khajuria N. Cytomorphological Changes in Buccal Mucosa among Tobacco Smokers and Tobacco Chewers and Level of Awareness towards their Adverse Effects on Health. Int J Res Health Allied Sci 2019; 5(1):136-139.