A case-control study of past history of nasal diseases and maxillary sinus cancer in Hokkaido, Japan.

A case-control study of maxillary sinus cancer was performed in Hokkaido with 116 cases and 232 controls matched for sex, age (within 5 years), and residence (same health center region). Preliminary univariate analyses showed that a history of chronic sinusitis [relative risk (RR) = 3.1]; nasal polyps (RR = 5.7); an occupational history of being a carpenter, joiner, furniture maker, or other woodworker (RR = 2.9); and a history of current or past cigarette smoking (RR = 3.3) were statistically significant risk factors for men. No single item was a significant risk factor for women.