Some observations on oral and pharyngeal carcinomas in the state of bombay

Cancer in the parsi community of bombay

“…Cancer in the oral and pharyngeal regions, which is a major problem amongst the Hindus and Moslems, is of minimal importance in the Parsi community (Paymaster, 1962). The distribution of cancer within the oral cavity and the pharynx in Parsi males and females is shown in Figure 1.…”

Upper alimentary tract cancer in Natal Indians with special reference to the betel-chewing habit.

“…An association between poor oral hygiene, oral submucous fibrosis, leukoplakia 55 and oropharyngeal cancer has been noted by workers in Asia (Paymaster, 1956 and1962;Pindborg, 1965;Pindborg et al, 1967;Wahi et al, 1965). Oral submucous fibrosis, first described by Joshi in 1953, was considered to be caused by the betel chewing habit by some observers (Shear et al, 1966;Paymaster, 1962;Pindborg, 1965;Pindborg et al, 1967) but not by others (Tennekoon and Bartlett, 1969;Balendra, 1949;Khanolkar, 1944).…”

“…Oral submucous fibrosis, first described by Joshi in 1953, was considered to be caused by the betel chewing habit by some observers (Shear et al, 1966;Paymaster, 1962;Pindborg, 1965;Pindborg et al, 1967) but not by others (Tennekoon and Bartlett, 1969;Balendra, 1949;Khanolkar, 1944). All workers agree that oropharyngeal cancers are common in countries where betel-chewing is a habit.…”

“…This habit has been well described by Muir and Kirk (1960) and others (Orr, 1933;Davidson, 1923;Hirayama, 1966). Most workers have noted that tobacco is the important ingredient in the betel-chewing habit, and many have observed that dietary deficiencies, in particular Vitamin A deficiencies, are also present in the betel-chewing population (Paymaster, 1956;Wahi et al, 1965;Orr, 1933). Most workers suspect tobacco as being causative both of submucous fibrosis and oropharyngeal cancer.…”

“…It is unlikely that poor oral hygiene, deficient diets, and curry or chilli consumption, which have been suggested to be cancer-promoting by several workers (Paymaster, 1956;Pindborg et al, 1967;Wahi et al, 1965;Balendra, 1949) are relevant, because these elements are equally present between males and females in Natal, and yet the incidence of upper alimentary tract cancer is not. Muir and Kirk (1960), Orr (1933) and Davidson (1923) have given careful descriptions of the leaf, the nut and lime, as follows:…”