[Mucinous adenocarcinoma of the nose and paranasal sinuses, an occupational disease?].

In Great Britain and other countries there have been reports of an increased frequency of adenocarcinoma of the nose and paranasal sinuses, mimicking histologically mucinous colonic carcinoma, among workers exposed to wood dust and workers in the leather industry. No such cases have been reported so far in Switzerland. 31 patients with this type of adenocarcinoma of the nose and paranasal sinuses observed between 1953 and 1984 have been reviewed. In 13 of these patients there was occupational exposure to wood dust, and 4 were shoemakers. The study suggests an association of this type of nasal carcinoma with occupational exposure to wood dust and leatherwork. The nature of the postulated carcinogen is unknown. The authors propose further investigations to define the magnitude of the cancer risk associated with exposure to wood dust and leather.