Long-term cancer risk in alcoholism.

A series of 1110 patients seen at hospitals in the Birmingham Region between 1948 and 1971 for alcohol related conditions were followed to 1981. By means of cohort analysis, the incidence of cancer in the series was compared with that in the West Midlands Region. In men the cancer risk was increased 1.7-fold: individual sites at risk were liver (8-fold), buccal cavity and throat (27-fold), respiratory system (2.4-fold), and oesophagus (4-fold). No excess of colo-rectal cancers was observed. Although in women there was no overall excess of cancers, the risk was high in the biliary system (15-fold) and was moderately increased for cervix uteri (4-fold).