[Phanacetin abuse III. Malignant urinary tract tumors in phenacetin abuse in Basle 1963-1977]

In 442 inhabitants of Basel 451 malignant tumors of the lower urinary tract were found at autopsy or biopsy from 1963 to 1977. 69/442 patients were abusers of phenacetin containing analgesics. Carcinomas and sarcomas of the lower urinary tract were nearly 13 times as frequent in abusers as in non-abusers. Carcinomas of the renal pelvis were 77 times, carcinomas of the ureter 89 times and those of the urinary bladder 7 times as frequent among abusers. The differences in incidence of malignant tumors are statistically highly significant for all localizations and for multiple carcinomas as well, even if smokers are excluded. "Phenacetin tumors" occurred in younger patients and were more common in women than in non-abusers. They were ofen, though not always, accompanied by analgesic nephropathy. Comparison with other etiological factors such as aromatic amines or thorotrast demonstrated that phenacetin abuse is of greatest importance. The significance of smoking cannot be established unequivocally. Because of the occurrence of a large number of malignant tumors in phenacetin abusers it is very important to prohibit by legislation the use of phenacetin or paracetamol containing analgesics without medical prescription. In addition, these drugs should be replaced by other analgesic compounds.