Alcohol, tobacco and middle third squamous esophageal cancer: a case-control study

Abstract

A case-control study was planned to show a possible association between middle third squamous esophageal cancer and the use of alcohol and tobacco. The study was conducted at the outpatient department of the University Hospital, Medical School of Ribeirão Preto during the years 1980/1981. Among 25,661 patients, 21 were diagnosed as middle third squamous esophageal cancer and 57 were chosen as controls. The controls were selected in a 3:1 ratio. The following item were matched: age, sex, residence, race, socioeconomic status, profession and use of tobacco and alcohol. An association between middle third squamous esophageal cancer and alcoholism was found (relative risk = 26.7) (p < 0.01). The present investigation failed to shown any association between that pathology and tobacco (relative risk = 1.9) (p >; 0.10).