BMJ 1994;308:1508 (4 June)

Letters

Oral squamous cell carcinoma Mouthwashes may increase risk

EDITOR, - Iain L Hutchison states that tobacco is an important risk factor for oral squamous cell carcinoma and that drinking alcohol and chewing betel quid have also been implicated.1 The International Agency for Research on Cancer states that "epidemiological studies clearly indicate that drinking of alcoholic beverages is causally related to cancers of the oral cavity and pharynx." Further, it believes that there is sufficient evidence for the carcinogenicity of alcoholic beverages.2 Evidence from Torino, Italy, showed a fourfold to sixfold increased risk in subjects with medium or high tobacco consumption, the effect of alcohol being found in subjects with an average daily consumption of more than 120 g.3 This research also found that among heavy consumers of alcohol and tobacco the risks of both oral and oropharyngeal cancer were high. More recent research has shown that of 101 cases of carcinoma of the floor of mouth, 79 were . . . [Full text of this article]


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Relevant Article

Improving the poor prognosis of oral squamous cell carcinoma
I L Hutchison
BMJ 1994 308: 669-670. [Extract] [Full Text]

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