title: Environmental factors and the risk of salivary gland cancer.
abstract: Cancer of the major salivary glands is rare, and little is known about its etiology. We conducted a population-based case-control study to elucidate the risk factors for these tumors. Of 199 cases diagnosed with salivary gland tumors between 1989 and 1993, 150 (75%) were interviewed. We subsequently excluded nine cases based on review of pathology specimens. We identified 271 controls through random-digit dialing and the Health Care Finance Administration files; 191 (70%) were interviewed. Therapeutic medical radiation treatment to the head or neck [odds ratio (OR) = 2.6; 95% confidence interval (CI) = 0.84-8.1], full mouth dental x-rays (OR = 1.6; 95% CI = 1.0-2.7), and ultraviolet light treatment to the head or neck (OR = 1.9; 95% CI = 0.89-4.3) were associated with increased risk. These elevations in risk were largely limited to those exposed before 1955, when the exposure dose was substantially higher. Occupational exposure to radiation/radioactive materials (OR = 2.4; 95% CI = 1.0-5.4) and nickel compounds/alloys (OR = 6.0; 95% CI = 1.6-22.0), as well as employment in the rubber industry (OR = 7.0; 95% CI = 0.80-60.3), increased risk. In men, current smoking (OR = 2.1; 95% CI = 0.98-4.7) and heavy alcohol consumption (OR = 2.5; 95% CI = 1.1-5.7) were associated with risk, but these factors were not strongly related to salivary gland cancer in women.
authors.affiliation: Northern California Cancer Center, Union City 94587, USA.
authors.forename: P L
authors.initials: PL
authors.lastname: Horn-Ross
authors.forename: B M
authors.initials: BM
authors.lastname: Ljung
authors.forename: M
authors.initials: M
authors.lastname: Morrow
mesh_terms: D000328:Adult; D000368:Aged; D000428:Alcohol Drinking / Q000453:epidemiology; D016022:Case-Control Studies; D016001:Confidence Intervals; D004781:Environmental Exposure / Q000009:adverse effects*; D005260:Female; D006801:Humans; D007221:Industry; D016015:Logistic Models; D008297:Male; D008875:Middle Aged; D015999:Multivariate Analysis; D009381:Neoplasms, Radiation-Induced / Q000453:epidemiology; D009532:Nickel / Q000009:adverse effects; D016273:Occupational Exposure / Q000009:adverse effects; D016017:Odds Ratio; D011861:Radiography, Dental / Q000009:adverse effects; D011878:Radiotherapy / Q000009:adverse effects; D012307:Risk Factors; D012408:Rubber; D012468:Salivary Gland Neoplasms / Q000453:epidemiology* / Q000209:etiology*; D012737:Sex Factors; D012878:Skin Neoplasms / Q000453:epidemiology; D014029:Tobacco Use Disorder / Q000453:epidemiology
chemical_list: D009532:Nickel; D012408:Rubber