DefinePK

Abstract

Introduction


The association between environmental agent that could cause the development of a malignancy was first described by Percival Pott in 1775 who reported scrotal cancer in chemney sweeps1. Several carcinogenic agents causing bladder cancer both occupational and non-occupational are well recognised. The incidence of bladder cancer attributed to occupational exposure is between 8% and 20%2. The most common occupational carcinogens are 2- naphthylaniine, benzidine, aminobiphenyl, dichlorobenzidine, orthodianisid­in orthotolidine, phenacetin, chiornaphazine and cyclophos­phamide2-4. Epidemiologic studies by Case and co-workers showed that the mean latent period may be as long as 40 to 50 years, however, time period may be diminished in patients who have higher exposure to carcinogens5. Mean latent period for tumours in the rubber and chemical industry was 25 years. Factors recognised as non-occupational carcinogens include tobacco6, excessive exposure to motor vehicle exhaust fumes2 chronic urinary tract infection7, schistosomiasis8, saccharine9, coffee10 and drugs11,12. Both retrospective and prospective studies have shown that there is an increased risk of developing bladder cancer in cigarette smokers1,8,13. This stud has analysed these risk factors in patients with bladder cancer in local population. This evaluation is important since bladder cancer ranks 10th amongst the commonest malignancies in males in Pakistan and is on top of the list of urological malignancies14.