H. pylori linked to increased odds of laryngeal carcinoma

(HealthDay)—Helicobacter pylori (H. pylori) infection is associated with significantly increased odds of laryngeal carcinoma but not pharyngeal cancer, according to a review published online Aug. 28 in Head & Neck.

Jian Zhou, Ph.D., from Fudan University School of Medicine in China, and colleagues conducted a systematic review of studies relating to H. pylori infection in laryngeal or pharyngeal carcinomas. Data from 11 studies were included in the meta-analysis.

The researchers found that H. pylori infection was significantly elevated in the study group versus the normal control group (odds ratio, 2.87; 95 percent confidence interval, 1.71 to 4.84; P < 0.0001). The odds ratios for laryngeal carcinoma and pharyngeal cancer were 3.28 (95 percent confidence interval, 1.91 to 5.63; P < 0.0001) and 1.35 (95 percent confidence interval, 0.86 to 2.12; P = 0.188), respectively.

"This meta-analysis favors the suggestion that there seems to be a correlation between H. pylori infection and laryngeal carcinoma," the authors write. "Nevertheless, no significant relationship was found between H. pylori infection and pharyngeal cancer. Furthermore, the small number of studies involved in this study led to a large confidence interval in this assessment."