Predominance of squamous cell carcinoma and rarity of adenocarcinoma of maxillary sinus among Japanese.

The reasons for the prevailing predominance of maxillary sinus squamous cell carcinoma and the rarity of maxillary sinus adenocarcinoma among Japanese were investigated in a cooperative study at two institutions. There was little difference in the histological diagnostic criteria. It is hypothesized that the predominance of squamous cell carcinoma and the rarity of adenocarcinoma of the maxillary sinus can be related to the extensive use of softwood in the Japanese furniture industry, to the high prevalence of chronic sinusitis among Japanese in the past or to the popularity of cigarette smoking among Japanese.