Cytogenetic Abnormality in Exfoliated Cells of Buccal Mucosa in Head and Neck Cancer Patients in the Tunisian Population: Impact of Different Exposure Sources

Table 5

Anomalous cell frequency observed in 1000 cells depending on HNC risk factors.

	Anomalous cell (mean ± SD)
	MN		BN
	Controls	Cases	Controls	Cases
Tobacco smoking
No	2.46±2.24	5.43±2.95^∗∗	3.95±1.90	5.32±2.13^∗∗
Yes	1.97±1.63	5.65±3.24 **	2.83±1.73	6.09±3.97 **
𝑃 value	NS	NS	0.046	0.045
Alcohol drinking
No	2.36±2.11	5.72±3.22 **	3.09±1.82	5.93±3.35 **
Yes	—	5.07±2.36	—	4.95±2.00
𝑃-value	—	NS	—	NS
Tobacco chewing
No	1.70±1.33	4.85±2.35 **	2.98±1.25	5.37±3.27 **
Yes	2.48±2.22	5.76±3.25 **	3.10±1.91	6.35±1.29 **
𝑃-value	NS	0.030	NS	NS
Occupational exposure
No	1.82±1.56	4.70±2.48 **	2.99±1.85	5.36±3.06 **
Yes	2.50±2.23	6.99±3.40 **	3.45±1.69	5.78±2.24 **
𝑃-value	NS	0.014	NS	NS
Amalgam fillings
No	2.12±1.79	5.21±2.81 **	3.20±1.78	5.59±2.88 **
Yes	2.84±2.63	5.98±3.31 *	2.87±1.78	5.69±3.22 *
𝑃-value	NS	NS	NS	NS

∗∗Significantly different compared with the control group, 𝑃<0.001.
*Significantly different compared with the control group, 𝑃<0.01.
NS: nonsignificant.