Cytogenetic biomonitoring in individuals exposed to cone beam CT: comparison among exfoliated buccal mucosa cells, cells of tongue and epithelial gingival cells.

OBJECTIVES: To evaluate chromosomal damage and cytotoxicity in exfoliated buccal mucosa cells, cells of the tongue and epithelial gingival cells from adults following CBCT scan and to compare the sensitivity of the different exfoliated cells to a same dosage of ionizing radiation.

METHODS: The study included 46 healthy participants (median age 27 years; age range 23-42 years) who had a CBCT scan. Exfoliated mucosa cells were collected immediately before the CBCT scan and 10 days after. Cells were centrifuged, fixed in the fluid of methanol : glacial acetic acid (3 : 1) and stained using the method of Schiff's reagent and fast green. One observer analyzed all the slides. For interobserver variances, a second observer scored 16 slides chosen from all the subjects. The same set of 16 slides were analyzed once again a month later for intraobserver variances.

RESULTS: There is no significant differences for micronucleated cells before and after a CBCT scan in exfoliated buccal mucosa cells (p = 0.476), cells of the tongue (p = 0.884) and epithelial gingival cells (p = 0.362). The frequencies of pyknosis cell and karyolysis cell had significantly increased after CBCT scan in the three groups. No significant difference was found among the three kinds of mucosa cells (p = 0.557). The interobserver (p = 0.624) and intraobserver (p = 0.193) variances were not significant.

CONCLUSIONS: A CBCT scan may induce cytotoxicity but not chromosomal damage in the oral mucosa cells, including buccal mucosa cells, cells of the tongue or epithelial gingival cells. The sensitivity of the different exfoliated cells to the same dosage of radiation had no statistically significant difference.