ORAL SNUFF AND CARCINOMA OESOPHAGUS

Background: Carcinoma oesophagus is known to occur worldwide. Various dietary, environmental and genetic factors and certain pre-malignant conditions have been blamed in the causation of carcinoma oesophagus but the exact cause in unknown. This study was conducted to find out the possible role of oral snuff to carcinoma oesophagus. Material & Methods: This descriptive analytical study was carried out in Medical, Surgical and ENT units of Khyber Teaching Hospital and Cardiothoracic unit of Lady Reading Hospital Peshawar from 1995 to 2005. Results: Relation of oral snuff use to carcinoma oesophagus was studied in 100 patients confirmed on endoscopy and biopsy and histopathology. Oral snuff use was found to have very strong correlation (P<0.001) with carcinoma oesophagus. The effect of ingesting snuff also had very strong correlation (P<0.001) and so was the duration (more than 10 years) of use (P=0.004), however, the frequency of snuff use (i.e. number of time per day) did not have any significant effect (P=0.08). A strong correlation of snuff use was also found with squamous cell carcinoma (P=0.001). Conclusion: Oral snuff use is a risk factor for carcinoma oesophagus. Carcinoma oesophagus can be prevented by discouraging its use. Educating people against snuff use may prevent this harmful & lethal disease. This should be done on individual level by the doctors and on mass level through public media.