Cigarette smoking and risk of acoustic neuromas and pituitary tumours in the Million Women Study.
BACKGROUND
The relationship between cigarette smoking and incidence of acoustic neuromas and pituitary tumours is uncertain.


METHODS
We examined the relation between smoking and risk of acoustic neuromas and pituitary tumours in a prospective study of 1.2 million middle-aged women in the United Kingdom.


RESULTS
Over 10.2 million person years of follow-up, 177 women were diagnosed with acoustic neuromas and 174 with pituitary tumours. Current smokers at recruitment were at significantly reduced risk of incident acoustic neuroma compared with never smokers (adjusted relative risk (RR)=0.41, 95% confidence interval (CI)=0.24-0.70, P=0.001). Past smokers did not have significantly different risk of acoustic neuroma than never smokers (RR=0.87, 95% CI=0.62-1.22, P=0.4). Smoking was not associated with incidence of pituitary tumours (RR in current vs never smokers=0.91, 95% CI=0.60-1.40, P=0.7).


CONCLUSIONS
Women who smoke are at a significantly reduced risk of acoustic neuromas, but not of pituitary tumours, compared with never smokers. Acoustic neuromas are much rarer than the cancers that are increased among smokers.
Benson
V S
VS
Cancer Epidemiology Unit, Nuffield Department of Clinical Medicine, University of Oxford, Richard Doll Building, Roosevelt Drive, Oxford OX3 7LF, UK.
Green
J
J
Pirie
K
K
Beral
V
V
D000236:Adenoma / Q000453:epidemiology* / Q000209:etiology; D015331:Cohort Studies; D005260:Female; D006801:Humans; D015994:Incidence; D008875:Middle Aged; D009464:Neuroma, Acoustic / Q000453:epidemiology* / Q000209:etiology; D010911:Pituitary Neoplasms / Q000453:epidemiology* / Q000209:etiology; D012307:Risk Factors; D012737:Sex Factors; D012907:Smoking / Q000009:adverse effects / Q000453:epidemiology*
Cancer Causes Control. 2009 Dec;20(10):1927-38
19568697
Annu Rev Pathol. 2009;4:97-126
19400692
Br J Cancer. 2008 Jul 8;99(1):185-90
18560401
Eur J Endocrinol. 2005 Apr;152(4):491-9
15817903
Neuro Oncol. 2006 Jan;8(1):1-11
16443943
Breast Cancer Res. 1999;1(1):73-80
11056681
Cancer Epidemiol Biomarkers Prev. 2009 May;18(5):1492-500
19423526
Int J Cancer. 2010 Oct 1;127(7):1692-8
20091865
Otol Neurotol. 2005 Jan;26(1):93-7
15699726
Int J Cancer. 2007 Jan 1;120(1):103-10
17019705