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The problem of cancer is universal; the only variation occurs in the type, site or other clinicoepidemiological parameters. Peculiarly enough, oral cancers caused by chewing tobacco are common in India and some parts of the Indian sub-continent. Oral cancers caused by other carcinogens are not common in these areas. The present study shows a significant association (P less than 0.001) between the use of Indian chewing tobacco and oral cancer. Number of quids, mean quantity of tobacco and mean duration of keeping the quids in the mouth had direct dose and effect relationships in causation of oral cancer. A dose of 10 gms of chewing tobacco for about 26 years was observed to have produced cancerous lesions in the buccal cavity.

A retrospective analysis of 48 cases of histologically proven primary gastrointestinal lymphoma was done. The analysis covered a 12-year period from January 1966 through December 1977. Four percent of all malignant tumors of the gastrointestinal tract were of this type. Males outnumbered females by a ratio of 1.8:1. The mean age of the patients was 21 years. The vagueness and variability of clinical features and nonspecific radiological findings were the main reasons for subjecting all the patients in this series to laparotomy. The most common site of involvement was the ileocecal region, followed by the ileum, the jejunum, and the stomach. Most of the cases were in an advanced stage of the disease as was suggested by the finding of lump in 60% and ascites in 20% of the cases. Radical resection, possible in only six cases, appears to be the best treatment. The effectiveness of radiotherapy and chemotherapy were disappointing. Prognostically, cases of localized and polypoidal lesions of the small bowel and Hodgkin lymphoma showed better survival.

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