Lung cancer pathology in smokers, ex-smokers and never smokers.
The histologic distribution of lung cancer is markedly different in smokers and non-smokers. It is not known whether the histology among former smokers varies according to the number of years since quitting. Using data from a large case-control study of lung cancer, we found that for both men and women, the proportion of adenocarcinomas increased with the number of years since quitting smoking. Among long-term quitters (> 25 years), the proportion of adenocarcinomas was similar to that in never smokers. These findings have implications for studies of environmental tobacco smoke and lung cancer.
Division of Epidemiology, American Health Foundation, New York, NY 10017.
J E
JE
Muscat
E L
EL
Wynder
D000230:Adenocarcinoma / Q000453:epidemiology*; D000328:Adult; D000368:Aged; D002294:Carcinoma, Squamous Cell / Q000453:epidemiology*; D016022:Case-Control Studies; D005260:Female; D006801:Humans; D008175:Lung Neoplasms / Q000453:epidemiology*; D008297:Male; D008875:Middle Aged; D012907:Smoking; D012923:Social Class; D013997:Time Factors