Cigarette smoking and Warthin's tumor

Area of Science:

• Oncology
• Epidemiology
• Otolaryngology

Background:

• The exact cause of Warthin's tumor, a benign parotid gland tumor, remains unclear.
• Emerging evidence suggests a potential association with cigarette smoking and a rising incidence.
• Warthin's tumor predominantly affects white individuals.

Purpose of the Study:

• To investigate the association between Warthin's tumor and cigarette smoking.
• To analyze the temporal trends in the incidence of Warthin's tumor.
• To compare the smoking habits of patients with Warthin's tumor to those with other salivary gland tumors.

Main Methods:

• Retrospective review of medical records for major salivary gland tumors diagnosed between 1968 and 1989 in Jefferson County, Alabama.
• Identification of 149 cases of Warthin's tumor and 533 control cases with other major salivary gland tumors.
• Statistical analysis to determine the relative incidence in smokers versus nonsmokers and to assess temporal trends.

Main Results:

• Warthin's tumors occurred in 96% of white patients.
• Smokers had a significantly higher relative incidence of Warthin's tumor (7.6 for men, 17.4 for women).
• Warthin's tumor incidence and its proportion among salivary gland tumors steadily increased from 1968 to 1988.

Conclusions:

• Warthin's tumor exhibits a strong association with cigarette smoking.
• The incidence of Warthin's tumor is increasing over time.
• The disease is notably rare in black individuals.