Cigarette Smoking and Alcohol Ingestion as Risk Factors for Laryngeal Squamous Cell Carcinoma at Kenyatta National Hospital, Kenya

Laryngeal squamous cell carcinoma (SCC) is strongly linked to cigarette smoking. It is estimated to account for more than 70% of laryngeal SCCs and up to 89% in combination with alcohol. We wished to determine the prevalence of cigarette smoking and alcohol ingestion among patients with laryngeal squamous cell carcinoma and estimate risk attributed to cigarette smoking and alcohol ingestion. Fifty experimental group patients and fifty controls were recruited of matching age, sex and region of residence. History of smoking and alcohol intake was taken and analyzed to estimate the relative strengths of these exposures. Cessation of smoking was associated with reduced risk of SCC. Smokers had increased risk compared to controls. Those who smoked only had a higher glottic cancer risk. Those who smoked and drank alcohol had a higher supraglottic cancer risk. Being a current smoker and long duration of smoking were independent risk factors of laryngeal SCC.