The role of Helicobacter pylori infection in the cause of squamous cell carcinoma of the larynx

OBJECTIVE., Helicobacter pylori can cause chronic infection that has been l inked to the development of both benign and malignant disease of the aerodi gestive tract. The purpose of this study was to determine the link between H pylori infection and squamous cell carcinoma of the larynx (SCCL). METHODS: We estimated the presence of IgG antibodies against H pylori antig ens by using ELISA technique in the sera of 26 patients with SCCL and 32 ma tched controls without carcinoma of the larynx. RESULTS: The incidence of seropositivity of patients with SCCL was 73.07% a nd of controls was 40.62%. These data support an etiologic role for H pylor i infection on development of SCCL (chi (2) = 4.85, P < 0.05). CONCLUSION: H pylori infection of the upper aerodigestive tract might resul t in mucosal disruption, allowing for subsequent transformation by known ca rcinogens such as tobacco and alcohol.