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The prevalence of oral lesions in smokeless tobacco users and an evaluation of risk factors
Author(s) -
Kaugars George E.,
Riley William T.,
Brandt Richard B.,
Burns James C.,
Svirsky John A.
Publication year - 1992
Publication title -
cancer
Language(s) - English
Resource type - Journals
SCImago Journal Rank - 3.052
H-Index - 304
eISSN - 1097-0142
pISSN - 0008-543X
DOI - 10.1002/1097-0142(19921201)70:11<2579::aid-cncr2820701102>3.0.co;2-j
Subject(s) - medicine , snuff , smokeless tobacco , lesion , chewing tobacco , leukoplakia , dermatology , biopsy , dysplasia , cancer , dentistry , surgery , pathology , environmental health , tobacco use , population
Background . The widespread use of smokeless tobacco (ST) has prompted concern in regard to the development of oral lesions in long‐term users. Methods . For inclusion in the current study, a subject must have used an ST product, either snuff or chewing tobacco, for at least 6 months. The subjects were recruited by advertising, and none was referred for the evaluation of an oral lesion. The following were performed on all subjects: assessment of exposure to ST, cigarettes, and alcohol; examination of the oral cavity; a biopsy, if an oral lesion was found; and analysis of a blood sample for beta‐carotene. The dietary intake of most of the subjects was analyzed. Results . Of the 347 ST users, all of whom were white male subjects, 45 (13.0%) had an oral lesion. Thirty‐five of the lesions were hyperkeratosis and 10 were epithelial dysplasia. Conclusions . Snuff exposure was associated significantly with the presence of an oral lesion (P < 0.0001). A decreased vitamin C intake also was found among the ST users with oral lesions (P < 0.01). The ST users with epithelial dysplasia, as compared with those with hyperkeratotic lesions, were slightly older, had a lower intake of vitamin C (P < 0.05), and were more likely to have used chewing tobacco than snuff.