title: Sinonasal adenoid cystic carcinoma following formaldehyde exposure in the operating theatre.
abstract: We present a case report of an auxiliary nurse who developed an adenoid cystic carcinoma in her left maxillary sinus following occupational exposure to formaldehyde in the operating theatre. Currently, the epidemiological evidence that formaldehyde can cause cancer in humans is considered to be limited. Previous case-control-studies of formaldehyde and sinonasal cancer have mainly investigated subjects who were concomitantly exposed to wood dust, a known risk factor to the development of sinonasal adenocarcinoma of intestinal type. Our case report presents a patient who has developed an adenoid cystic carcinoma following exposure to formaldehyde. We suggest that the occupational physician remains alert to formaldehyde as an occupational hazard among health care workers.
authors.affiliation: Department of Environmental and Occupational Medicine, Oslo University Hospital, PO Box 4956, Nydalen, Oslo, NO-0424 Norway.
authors.forename: Anniken
authors.initials: A
authors.lastname: Sandvik
authors.affiliation: Department of Pathology, Vestfold Hospital Trust, Tønsberg, Norway.
authors.forename: Tor Audun
authors.initials: TA
authors.lastname: Klingen
authors.affiliation: Department of Environmental and Occupational Medicine, Oslo University Hospital, PO Box 4956, Nydalen, Oslo, NO-0424 Norway.
authors.forename: Sverre
authors.initials: S
authors.lastname: Langård
keywords: Adenoid cystic carcinoma; Formaldehyde; Nurse; Operating theatre; Sinonasal cancer; Work-related cancer