Assessment of Lung Cytological Atypia among Shisha Smokers

Abstract

Objectives. The aim of this study was to assess frequency of lung epithelial atypia among Shisha users. Methods. Sputum samples were collected from 200 subjects (100 Shisha users (cases) and 100 nontobacco users (controls)). Cytological smears were prepared and demonstrated using Papanicolaou and silver nucleolar organizer region (AgNORs) methods. Results. Cytological atypia was identified among 2/100 (2%) of the cases, and no cytological atypia was found among controls. Respiratory squamous metaplasia was significantly higher among cases 42/100 (42%), compared to controls 7/100 (7%) (P<0.001). Shisha users were found more susceptible for bacterial infections 34 (34%) compared to controls 3/100 (3%), (P<0.0001). The mean AgNOR dots count was higher among cases (2.3±.23) than among controls (1±.2), P<0.001. Conclusion. In view of these findings, the consumption of Shisha is a risk factor for cellular proliferation activity in respiratory epithelium. The mean AgNORs count is a useful indicator for prediction of the risk of exposure to certain carcinogenic elements that may induce lung cancer.

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“…Thus, detection of high-risk precancerous oral lesions and intervention is a major key toward reducing the incidence, prevalence, death and cost of treatment associated with oral cancer. Early alterations in the oral mucosa can be identified oral exfoliative cytology through screening of population at risk [15][16][17][18][19][20][21][22][23]. Oral Exfoliative Cytology is well accepted by patients and it is a practical diagnostic and screening method for diagnosis and early detection of oral mucosal lesions [24].…”

“…The prevalence of shish (water pipe tobacco smoking) is increasing worldwide and is particularly among adolescents of almost all ethnicities and socio-economic backgrounds [18]. In the Sudan, there is a high frequency of shisha usage [19]. Most shisha users gather in cafes' and used to use a single water pipe in circular smoking pattern.…”