Relationship Between Primary Lung Cancer and Peptic Ulcer in Males

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Abstract
More than 450 male patients admitted to 3 chest units for chest investigation were investigated for past histories of disorders regarded as psychosomatic. Histories were obtained before either interviewer or patient was aware of the suspected diagnosis for which the patient was admitted. Lung cancer was subsequently diagnosed in 212 of the men. Of the remainder 199 were admitted on account of non-cancerous conditions (main controls) and 47 on account of a variety of psychosomatic conditions (psychosomatic controls). Significant differences between lung cancer patients and the main controls were confined to those in the age group 45-64 and are summarized as follows Peptic ulcer is more common in the histories of lung cancer patients especially in those aged 45-54. More lung cancer patients have histories of psychosomatic disorders other than peptic ulcer, especially of non-articular rheumatism, dermatitis and neuroses. There is an association between cigarette smoking and lung cancer and also between cigarette smoking and peptic ulcer; there is no association between cigarette smoking and a history of past psychosomatic disorders other than peptic ulcer. Cigarette smoking therefore does not appear to be a common link between lung cancer, peptic ulcer and other psychosomatic disorders. A greater proportion of peptic ulcers and other psychosomatic disorders tend to occur among those with adenocarcinoma, but the number in this histological group is too small to permit conclusions. Lung cancer patients show a broad similarity to psychosomatic controls in incidence of past psychosomatic disorders but tend to have had rather more peptic ulcers and less other psychosomatic disorders. The statistical association of lung cancer with peptic ulcer is more consistent with a possible psychosomatic factor in the etiology of lung cancer than with other current theories.

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