Lymphoid tissues in neoplasia. A pilot study and review

Abstract

Relationships between cancer and prior appendectomy and tonsillectomy were studied in a series of 919 consecutive autopsies as well as by interview and physical examination of 461 cancer patients and 223 controls. In the autopsy series, 11.0 appendectomies were expected among the male cancer patients compared with 7 observed. Among female cancer patients, 11.0 appendectomies were expected, while 10 were observed. Neither of these differences was statistically significant. In the interview series, the appropriately weighted relative risk of appendectomy was 0.72 in men and 1.12 in women with cancer. Neither value deviated significantly from the null value, 1.00. For tonsillectomy, the relative risks were 1.26 and 1.06, respectively, both insignificantly increased. There is no evidence from the present study that prior lymphoid tissue surgery substantially affects the subsequent risk of cancer. However, sample sizes in this as well as 9 other studies which were reviewed are inadequate to permit rejection of an actual two‐ or threefold relative risk deviation in patients with certain types of cancer. Restrospective and prospective approaches for subsequent investigation of the role of lymphoid tissues in neoplasia are suggested. Copyright © 1970 American Cancer Society