New research has found a link between cannabis use disorder (CUD) and benign salivary gland tumors. The corresponding study was published in JAMA Otolaryngology–Head & Neck Surgery.
Previous research has suggested an association between cannabis use and salivary gland malignant neoplasms. How exactly the two are linked however has remained unclear. To understand more about the topic, researchers conducted a retrospective cohort study using de-identified electronic medical record data from the US. They included 184,000 individuals with CUD and over 6.2 million individuals without the condition.
Ultimately, they found that those with CUD were significantly more likely to have benign major salivary gland tumors than those without the condition; whereas 0.08% of those with CUD had tumors, the same was true for 0.02% of those without. Those with CUD were also significantly more likely to have benign parotid salivary gland tumors than those without the condition. These tumors occurred in 0.05% of those with CUD and just 0.01% of those without.
The researchers concluded that the study suggests a link between CUD and benign salivary gland tumors. Although histologic data were unavailable, they noted that the study suggests similar underlying mechanisms to those found with tobacco smoking. Previous studies suggest that the link between tobacco smoking and Warthin tumors is likely linked to metaplasia of epithelial cells, lymphoid proliferation, and oxidative damage from smoke pressure through the parotid duct.
The researchers noted that limitations to their research include a lack of cannabis dose information and histologic data on benign salivary gland tumors alongside limited controls and long-term follow-up.
“Analysis of CUD data allowed detection of a potential previously unknown association between cannabis use and benign salivary gland tumors. Future prospective research with large samples and data on cannabis dosing, method of use, and benign salivary gland neoplasm pathology is required to further assess and confirm this association,” wrote the researchers in their study.
Sources: EurekAlert, JAMA Otolaryngology–Head & Neck Surgery