Suleman Khan, Rafique Ahmad Khan, Ikram Hashmi, Abdul Rehman, Tayyib M.
Silver staining Nucleolar organizer region (AgNOR) typing in buccal mucosal cytology of smokers and non-smokers.
Esculapio J Services Inst Med Sci Jan ;2(3):9-10.

Background: Argyrophilic nucleolar organizer region (AgNOR) size and distribution are related to malignant potential in a tissue or cell. Typing of AgNOR has been attempted in cytological specimens & found useful in grading dysplasia from mild to severe in oral lesions. This study was conducted in an attempt to find any difference between smokers and non-smokers oral mucosal cells as regards AgNOR size and distribution. Results: The cytological smears of buccal mucosa in 75 smokers and 75 nonsmokers were stained for AgNOR. AgNOR typing based on size and distribution was performed in both smokers and nonsmokers using Ahsan`s criteria. No statistically significant difference was found between smokers and nonsmokers. AgNORs were round and had clustered distribution in both group. Conclusion: It is not possible on the basis of AgNOR typing to differentiate between smoker`s buccal mucosal cells and that of nonsmoker`s. This study also indicates that AgNOR technique is simple, inexpensive and easily reproducible. Moreover Ahsan`s criteria for AgNOR typing are simplest and don`t depend on the availability of expensive precision instruments.

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