Delayed infection, late tonsillectomy or adenoidectomy and adult leukaemia: a case-control study.
In a population-based case-control study among adults in Italy, of 261 lymphoid and 313 myeloid leukaemias and 1718 controls, a later age at adenoidectomy and tonsillectomy (after age 10 years) increased considerably the risk of lymphocytic (but not myeloid) leukaemia (odds ratio 4.2, 95% confidence interval 1.1-16.2). We propose that late infection is a proliferative stimulus for B-cells.
Vineis
P
P
Servizio di Epidemiologia dei Tumori, Ospedale S. Giovanni Battista e Università di Torino, Italy. paolo.vineis@unito.it
Miligi
L
L
Crosignani
P
P
Davico
L
L
Fontana
A
A
Masala
G
G
Nanni
O
O
Ramazzotti
V
V
Rodella
S
S
Stagnaro
E
E
Tumino
R
R
Viganò
C
C
Vindigni
C
C
Costantini
A S
AS
D000233:Adenoidectomy / Q000009:adverse effects*; D000328:Adult; D000368:Aged; D016022:Case-Control Studies; D002455:Cell Division; D020031:Epstein-Barr Virus Infections / Q000150:complications*; D004854:Herpesvirus 4, Human; D006801:Humans; D007938:Leukemia / Q000209:etiology* / Q000473:pathology / Q000821:virology; D008875:Middle Aged; D011183:Postoperative Complications / Q000821:virology*; D014068:Tonsillectomy / Q000009:adverse effects*