The relationship between occupations and head and neck cancers

WOS: 000243863500009PubMed: 17304970Objective: The objective of this study was to investigate the relationship between occupation and head and neck cancers. Patients and Methods: In this case-control study, 206 Turkish patients with head and neck cancers comprised the case group. The control group consisted of 206 age- and sex-matched patients without malignant disease. All patients completed a questionnaire regarding occupation; tobacco and alcohol consumption; educational status; and history of any systemic disease, benign head and neck disease, and cancer among family members. High-risk jobs were considered those in the industries of construction, wood, mining, metal, chemistry and agriculture. Results: Patients with head and neck cancers worked in high-risk occupations more frequently than did controls [odds ratio (OR): 3.42, p 0.05). Conclusion: Our analysis showed that occupation and smoking were significant independent risk factors for the development of head and neck cancers among workers