Is the subsite distribution of laryngeal cancer related to smoking habits?

In Finland traditionally as many as two-thirds of laryngeal cancers have been considered to be supraglottic, while in other countries the majority are glottic. The Finnish observation is based on clinical series diagnosed and treated mainly before the 1960s. The aim of our study was to evaluate the present situation. This study consisted of 279 patients treated in Eastern Finland between 1975 and 1994 and included 145 (52%) glottic, 124 (44%) supraglottic and 10 (4%) subglottic tumours in 260 (93%) men and 19 (7%) women. During this study period, the proportion of glottic tumours remained stable in men but increased in women. The change in smoking habits seems to be the most important reason for the shift from supraglottic to glottic tumours.