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Serum cotinine as an objective marker for smoking habit in head and neck malignancy

Published online by Cambridge University Press:  29 June 2007

H. B. Whittet
Affiliation:
Senior Registrar, ENT Department, Radcliffe Infirmary, Woodstock Road, Oxford OX2 6HE.
V. J. Lund*
Affiliation:
Senior Lecturer, Professional Unit, Institute of Laryngology and Otology, Gray's Inn Road, London WC1X 8EE.
M. Brockbank
Affiliation:
Senior Registrar, Royal National Throat, Nose and Ear Hospital, Gray's Inn Road, London WC1X 8DA.
T C. Feyerabend
Affiliation:
Senior Chemist, National Poisons Unit, New Cross Hospital, London SE14 5ER.
*
Miss V. J. Lund, M.S., F.R.C.S., Royal National Throat, Nose and Ear Hospital, 330, Gray's Inn Road, London WC1X 8DA.

Abstract

Cigarette-smoking is a well-established aetiological factor in squamous cell carcinoma of the larynx. In Great Britain the majority of patients with laryngeal cancer are treated by radiotherapy with salvage surgery if necessary. A troublesome side effect of radiotherapy is mucositis which may exacerbate hoarseness, dysphagia, airway obstruction or pain. Although it is a common belief that continued smoking and alcohol consumption during radiotherapy may increase the frequency and severity of these side effects this has not been demonstrated objectively. This study confirms and illustrates the relationship between such radiotherapy reactions to continued smoke exposure by using an objective biochemical marker of smoking status.

Type
Main Articles
Copyright
Copyright © JLO (1984) Limited 1991

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