Epidemiology of cancer of the nose and paranasal sinuses: current concepts

Cancer of the nose and paranasal sinuses (SNC) has been attributed to occupational exposure to nickel, chromium, radium, dichlordiethyl sulphide, isopropyl oil, and hydrocarbons. Occupational groups with an increased SNC risk include furniture, boot and show workers, and workers in U.S. countries heavily involved in both petroleum and chemical manufacturing; specific agents have not been identified with certainty. In most of the studies, the risk for developing SNC in the exposed workers was 21 to 100+ times greater than the risk for SNC in those who were not exposed. Undifferentiated and squamous histologies are associated with nickel refining; adenocarcinomas are found in woodworkers, boot and show manufacturers, and textile workers. Most occupations at risk for SNC were also at risk for cancer of other sites, particularly lung and skin cancer. Study of the epidemiology of SNC may identify unrecognized carcinogens and occupational groups at increased cancer risk.