Alcohol and tobacco are the major etiologic factors involved in the oncogenesis of squamous cell carcinomas(SCC) of the head and neck. Although SCC is predominantly seen in male, but infrequently squamous cell carcinoma can occur in female who
are
mostly composed of nonsmokers and nondrinkers.
Previous reserchers have reported that the biologic behaviour and oncogenesis of nonsmoker's SCC were variously different from that of the smoker's SCC. There is great deal of controversy in deciding the priority in the management of such women
for
whom
the aesthetic outcome is major concern.
Authors analyzed eleven cases from 1980 through 1995 retrospectively for the evaluation of possible etiologic factors in the development of SCC other than tobacco and alcohol in the nonsmoking population, pathologicoclinical correlationships and
prognosis of these patients. As a result, we found that SCC developed in nonsmoker are mostly low grade tumors especially grade 2, in which cell kinetic activities are more active than in smoker's Therefore, it is wise to select a radical
treatment
modality rather than conservative modalities. Specific dietary habits were found not to be significant alternative risk factors in nonsmoker who are woman mostly, further study should be focused in the field of hormonal oncogenesis. (Korean J
Otolaryngo1 39 : 7, 1996)
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