Passive Smoking and Oral Cancer Risk: A Case Report

Abstract

Passive smoking is a major public health problem associated with increased risks of several diseases including cancers. Environmental tobacco smoke contains numerous carcinogens, and prolonged exposure has been implicated in the development of malignancies in non-smokers. This report presents the case of a 30-year-old female with squamous cell carcinoma of the maxillary alveolus who had no conventional risk factors for oral cancer except prolonged exposure to passive smoking from her spouse. The case highlights the possible association between second-hand smoke and oral cancer and reviews the available evidence supporting this relationship.