Precursor lesions of oesophageal cancer in young people in a high-risk population in China.

Young people (15-26 years) were selected from households in a population in China at high risk of oesophageal cancer on the basis of whether a case of oesophageal cancer had (166 participants) or had not (372 participants) occurred in a first-degree relative. In an endoscopic survey 43.5% of the male subjects and 35.9% of the female subjects showed histological signs of chronic oesophagitis. The presence of these precursor lesions was significantly associated in a multivariate logistic model with consumption of burning hot beverages, a family history of oesophageal cancer (including second-degree relatives), infrequent consumption of fresh fruit, and infrequent consumption of dietary staples other than maize.