Contacts:
Sarah Goodwin

Kathi Ovnic
Holly Korschun
November 16, 1998

ANOTHER DANGER FOR WOMEN SMOKERS: HIGHER RISK OF BASAL CELL CARCINOMA OF THE EYELID

Women smokers may face a higher risk of a common skin cancer of the eyelid reports Emory Eye Center oculoplastic surgeon Ted H. Wojno, M.D., at a recent meeting of the American Academy of Ophthalmology.

Dr. Wojno's recent study compared 112 patients with biopsy-proven basal cell carcinoma of the eyelid with patients undergoing other lid surgeries. Overall, the study found that patients who smoked were not more likely to develop basal cell carcinomas, but when the data were adjusted for gender, women smokers were more likely than male smokers to develop this type of skin cancer.

"Obviously, further study is needed to see if this is a true association," Dr. Wojno says. "However, this study suggests that basal cell carcinomas of the eyelid should be yet another area of concern for women smokers, especially given that basal cell carcinomas are the most common skin cancer in the United States."

Because the parameters of the study could suggest no specific reason for the higher correlation in women smokers than male smokers, Dr. Wojno stressed that the results must be considered tentative until further research can be performed.

Carrie Drews-Botsch, Ph.D., also at Emory, provided the statistical analysis for this study.

The ophthalmologists in the oculoplastic surgery section of the Emory Eye Center perform plastic, reconstructive, and cosmetic surgery for the outer areas of the eyes, including the eyelids, tear ducts, and orbits. The section's oculoplastic surgeons are faculty members of the Emory University School of Medicine.


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