Laryngeal cancer in farmers from Lublin region of Poland.

The aim of the study was to analyse if work related risk factor had any influence on stage, localisation and histology of type of malignant tumour. Demographic and risk factors and results of treatment of farmers with patients working outside farming were compared. The group included 148 patients with primary laryngeal squamous cell carcinoma (LSCC) diagnosed and treated in our institution in the years 1999-2002. 84 (56.8%) of 148 patients were farmers and 64 (42.2%) patients worked outside farming. The univariate analysis of demographical and clinicopathological features of the farmers' group versus the other professions group with LSCC showed a statistical significance for sex, age and G stage. Nearly statistical significance was observed for the N stage (p=0.06) and for primary localisation of the tumour (p=0.05). The difference in 3 and 5-year survival rates between the group of farmers in comparison with the group of patients working outside farming and with LSCC was not significant for most of the demographical and clinicopathological features. Local, nodal or local plus nodal recurrence occurred in 15 (21.1%) of 84 farmers during 3 years follow-up. Distant metastases were observed in 7 (8.3%) of 84 farmers with LSCC, 6 to the lungs and one to the liver. Farmers with larynx cancer had different presentation pattern than other profession patients. The incidence of glottic cancer and well differentiated cancer was higher in farmers than in other professions. The prevalence of larynx cancer in women was significantly lower among farmers than in other professions. There were older patients in the group of farmers and relatively less women than in the group of patients with other professions.