Background: Cancer of the esophagus is common in India. The risk factors predisposing to cancer in southern Indian patients are not known.
Aim: To determine the role of smoking, alcohol and their combination, and diet factors in the etiology of cancer of the esophagus.
Methods: Risk factors like alcohol consumption, smoking, tobacco chewing, and pre-illness diet details in 90 patients with cancer of the esophagus were compared with those in age- and sex-matched control subjects.
Results: The risk for esophageal cancer was 3.5 times higher with alcohol consumption, 2.5 times higher for tobacco users, and 2.8 times higher each for betel nut chewers and smokers. The calculated odds ratio for the social habits and diet factors was significant amongst cases of cancer esophagus.
Conclusion: Alcoholism, smoking, and chewing of tobacco are factors predisposing to esophageal cancer in southern India.