The Effects of Betel-Nut Chewing on the Buccal Mucosa: A Histological Study

Abstract

Sixty-two “leukoplakias” from the cheeks of betel-nut chewers in West Malaysia were studied histologically. Ten biopsies were from non-tobacco betel-nut chewers. An amorphous von Kossa positive layer was seen on the keratin surface in 42 specimens. Tobacco did not appear essential for its formation, and it appeared to be significantly associated with parakeratosis. Its possible significance as a cuticle-like layer prolonging contact between carcinogens and the mucosa is discussed.

Parakeratosis appeared to be the most common form of cornification seen, and the mitotic activity in parakeratinized leukoplakias appeared to be significantly greater than orthokeratinized leukoplakias.

Comparison with studies on other population samples using different quids suggested that severe histological changes were more likely to be seen when tobacoo-containing quids were chewed as compared to non-tobacco-containing quids.

An attempt to correlate the histological changes seen with the clinical habit in leukoplakias from chewers using tobacco-containing quids suggested that epithelial atrophy appeared to be significantly related to the duration of the habit but not to the “intensity” of the habit.