[Cigarette smoking practices in patients with malignant neoplasms of the oral cavity and jaws].

The aim of this study was to estimate the cigarette smoking practices in patients with malignant neoplasms of the oral cavity and jaws, who were treated in the Outpatient Department of the Maxillofacial Department of Silesian Medical Academy in Katowice from january 2000 to june 2004. It was found that significant number of patients (100% of men and 72.72% of women) with oral squamous cell carcinoma had been smoking in the period of time preceding appearance of neoplasm. The men smoked more cigarettes a day and started smoking in a younger age than women. Gender factor did not influence significantly the period of time from starting of smoking practices to the appearance of neoplasm. The patients with the other types of neoplasms denied cigarette smoking.