Bronchial cancer in Hong Kong, 1976-77: a preliminary report

A case-control study of the relationship of bronchial cancer to smoking was conducted during 1976-77 in Hong Kong, in which we took particular note of the histologic type of the tumor. A total of 132 male and 111 female patients were interviewed. The association with smoking was more evident in males than it was in females, and squamous and small-cell type carcinomas, as a group, appeared to be more closely associated with smoking than did adenocarcinomas and large cell tumors. Of the women with bronchial carcinoma, 44% were nonsmokers; 79% of their tumors were adenocarcinomas or large cell carcinomas. For the women in this group, no association could be detected with place of residence, occupation, or use of kerosene for cooking.