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Betel quid inducement of epithelial atypia in the buccal mucosa of baboons
Author(s) -
Hamner James E.
Publication year - 1972
Publication title -
cancer
Language(s) - English
Resource type - Journals
SCImago Journal Rank - 3.052
H-Index - 304
eISSN - 1097-0142
pISSN - 0008-543X
DOI - 10.1002/1097-0142(197210)30:4<1001::aid-cncr2820300422>3.0.co;2-u
Subject(s) - medicine , buccal administration , betel , atypia , leukoplakia , areca , buccal mucosa , pathology , traditional medicine , dentistry , cancer , nut , oral cavity , structural engineering , engineering
Twelve baboons were divided into two groups: five received a basic betel quid (betel leaf, areca nut, and lime) inserted into a surgically created buccal mucosal pouch three times per week for 42 months; seven baboons had Maharashtran tobacco added to the basic quid. At the end of 12 months of treatment, five of seven baboons in the betel/tobacco group exhibited varying degrees of epithelial atypia; three of five animals in the betel group revealed atypia to a lesser degree. Histologic features of epithelial atypia included variance in nuclear size and shape, nuclear hyperchromatism, loss of cellular polarity, loss of cellular cohesion, and ballooning of cells. Ulcerative, hemorrhagic lesions occurred in the buccal mucosa of all animals after 30 months. Severe epithelial atypia was seen microscopically in one betel/tobacco animal after 34 months and developed in three of seven buccal pouches in the betel/tobacco group following only 42 months of quid insertion. It is postulated that lime in the betel quid serves to condition the buccal mucosal tissue, thus rendering it susceptible to the weak carcinogenic effect of Indian tobacco, producing the marked epithelial atypical changes. Continued betel/tobacco treatment for a longer duration should lead to definite malignant invasion.