title: Palmoplantar keratoderma is associated with esophagus squamous cell cancer in Van region of Turkey: a case control study.
abstract: BACKGROUND
  Esophagus squamous cell cancer (ESCC) is the most common cancer in women with 20.2% and second in men with 10.7% relative frequency among all cancer cases diagnosed in Van Region in the east of Turkey. Ninety percent of all esophageal cancer cases are ESCC and 20-30% of them have family history of esophageal cancer. The most clear defined hereditary predisposition associated with ESCC is palmoplantar keratoderma (PPK). To examine the relationship between ESCC and PPK, we have carried out this case control study.
  
  
  METHODS
  The case group consisted of 48 subjects who had new diagnosis of ESCC and did not receive any chemo or radiotherapy. The control group consisted of 96 healthy individuals who were visitors of their relatives in the hospital. Two control persons who matched for age, gender, living place (urban/rural) and region were selected for each case. All subjects were evaluated for PPK by dermatologist. Evaluation was graded as none, mild, evident and severe. None and mild subjects were classified as negative for PPK; and others as positive. Relationship between ESCC and PPK was evaluated with odds ratios and confidence intervals for cases with or without family history of ESCC.
  
  
  RESULTS
  The PPK frequencies were 92.3% in ESCC cases with family history, 62.5% in ESCC cases without family history, 70.8% in all ESCC cases, and 28.1% in the control group. Odds ratios for cases with or without family history of esophageal cancer, and for the whole case group were found as 30.7 (95%CI = 3.8-247.4), 4.3 (95%CI = 1.9-9.8) and 6.2 (95%CI = 2.9-13.3) respectively.
  
  
  CONCLUSIONS
  Presence of PPK lesions represents genetic susceptibility for ESCC. This susceptibility for ESCC is the highest among those who have PPK lesions and a positive family history of esophageal cancer. Furthermore, a PPK sufferer has an increased risk of developing ESCC even if there is no family history of esophageal cancer.
authors.affiliation: Internal Medicine Department, School of Medicine, Yuzuncu Yil University, Van, Turkey. mahmutilhan@superonline.com
authors.forename: Mahmut
authors.initials: M
authors.lastname: Ilhan
authors.forename: Tugrul
authors.initials: T
authors.lastname: Erbaydar
authors.forename: Necmettin
authors.initials: N
authors.lastname: Akdeniz
authors.forename: Sevket
authors.initials: S
authors.lastname: Arslan
mesh_terms: D000328:Adult; D000368:Aged; D016022:Case-Control Studies; D004938:Esophageal Neoplasms / Q000150:complications* / Q000453:epidemiology* / Q000235:genetics; D005192:Family Health; D005260:Female; D020022:Genetic Predisposition to Disease; D006801:Humans; D007645:Keratoderma, Palmoplantar / Q000150:complications* / Q000453:epidemiology* / Q000235:genetics; D008297:Male; D008875:Middle Aged; D016017:Odds Ratio; D012306:Risk; D012307:Risk Factors; D014421:Turkey