Alcohol as an additional risk factor in laryngopharyngeal cancer in Mumbai--a case-control study

A retrospective case-control study of 1698 male pharyngeal and laryngeal cancers seen at the Tata Memorial Hospital, Mumbai from 1980 to 1984 was undertaken to assess the association between the cancers and chewing, smoking, and alcohol habits. Male controls were chosen from persons who attended the hospital during the same period and who were diagnosed as free from cancer, benign tumor, and infectious disease. Statistical analysis was based on unconditional logistic regression method. Bidi smoking and alcohol drinking emerged as significant factors for pharyngeal and laryngeal cancers. Illiterates had 50 to 60% excess risk for pharyngeal cancer only. Nonvegetarian diet did not emerge as significant factor in our study.