Etiology of carcinoma of the larynx

Since 1973, evidence based on case-control and mortality studies has suggested that carcinoma of the larynx was an asbestos-related tumour. In this study, 305 male and 206 female patients were interviewed on admission to the Royal National Throat Nose and Ear Hospitals in London. Following endoscopy, biopsy material was reviewed and classified as either neoplastic, cysts and polyps or inflammatory; a fourth group consisted of patients for whom the surgeon recorded that the larynx appeared normal on inspection and from whom no biopsy was taken. Only 15 neoplastic conditions were detected among the women, and only two had asbestos exposure; thus, no further analysis was made. Among the males, the neoplastic group was significantly older than the other groups, and cigarette smoking was significantly more common. Alcohol consumption did not differ significantly; and asbestos exposure was not more common in the neoplastic group than in the three other groups.