Assess the relation between risk factors and squamous cell carcinoma of the tongue in women. Study design: Retrospective non randomized. OBJECTIVE: Determine the relation between ocupacional history, risk factors (alcohol and tobacco), demographic variables and squamous cell carcinoma of the base of the tongue in women. MATERIAL AND METHODS: retrospective non randomized study in 31 files of women with squamous cell carcinoma of the base of the tongue at the Head and Neck Surgery and Otorhinolaryngolology of Hospital Heliópolis, São Paulo, from 1977 to 2000. Etnic, distribuition, age, occupational activities, tobacco, alcohol, consuption main sympton, interval between the first sypmton and the diagnosis and stage (TNM) were assessed, about statistics, were employed Kappa and Mc Nemar tests. RESULTS: About etnic distribuition, white (58,1%), black (35,5%) and yellow (6,4%), with age ranging from 50 to 59 years, house keeper (83,9%), agriculture workers (6,4%), industry (3,2%), trade and superior level (3,2%). Concerning risk factors, tobacco alone (48,4%) both (45,2%) and none (6,4%). As symptoms, odinophagia (48,4%), neck node (19,3%), disphagia (12,9%), earache (9,7%), tongue wound (6,4%) and hoarseness (3,2%). For TNM stage, T3-4 (74,1%), T1-2 (25,8%), N0 (29,0%), N1 (29,0%), N2-3 (42,0%). CONCLUSIONS: Squamous cell carcinoma in women occured with prevalence of the at 6th decade, in white patients, with main symptons as odinophagia and neck node metastasis. In T3 and T4 patients, it was detected the predominance of tobacco, with neck metastasis at the first consultation.
base of the tongue; squamous cell carcinoma; alcohol; tobacco; female
