Book contents
- Frontmatter
- Contents
- Contributors
- Preface
- Acknowledgements
- Historical introduction
- PART I Epidemiological methods
- PART II Causative factors in human cancer
- PART III Legal and ethical considerations
- PART IV Introduction: total and specific site epidemiology
- PART V Buccal cavity
- 23 Lip, oral cavity and pharynx
- 24 Nasopharynx (NPC)
- PART VI Digestive system
- PART VII Respiratory system
- PART VIII Bone and soft tissue
- PART IX Skin
- PART X Breast and genitourinary system
- PART XI Eye and nervous system
- PART XII Thyroid and other endocrine glands, lymphoid and hematopoietic system
- PART XIII Cancers in children and multiple primary cancers
- Conclusions
- Appendix 1 Cancer statistics
- Appendix 2 A glossary of epidemiological terms
- Appendix 3 Acronyms and abbreviations
- Supplement
- Index
23 - Lip, oral cavity and pharynx
Published online by Cambridge University Press: 03 May 2010
- Frontmatter
- Contents
- Contributors
- Preface
- Acknowledgements
- Historical introduction
- PART I Epidemiological methods
- PART II Causative factors in human cancer
- PART III Legal and ethical considerations
- PART IV Introduction: total and specific site epidemiology
- PART V Buccal cavity
- 23 Lip, oral cavity and pharynx
- 24 Nasopharynx (NPC)
- PART VI Digestive system
- PART VII Respiratory system
- PART VIII Bone and soft tissue
- PART IX Skin
- PART X Breast and genitourinary system
- PART XI Eye and nervous system
- PART XII Thyroid and other endocrine glands, lymphoid and hematopoietic system
- PART XIII Cancers in children and multiple primary cancers
- Conclusions
- Appendix 1 Cancer statistics
- Appendix 2 A glossary of epidemiological terms
- Appendix 3 Acronyms and abbreviations
- Supplement
- Index
Summary
Introduction
Cancer of the oral cavity and pharynx is the fourth most common cancer in males and the eighth most common in females on a worldwide basis. Their incidence varies significantly in different countries. As a group, those cancers are relatively rare in northern Europe, but are common in the Latin countries of Europe and in the Indian subcontinent. The nasopharynx (ICD-9 147) is considered in Chapter 24; the salivary glands (ICD-9 142) at the end of this chapter.
Histology, classification and diagnosis
These cancers are predominantly squamous carcinomas. They are frequently preceded by leukoplakia, notably in the mouth. Numerous histological types of salivary glands cancer are described. The most frequent is pleomorphic adenoma of which most occur in the parotid gland. While initially benign, it has a tendency to recur and a proportion eventually become malignant.
Descriptive epidemiology
Incidence and time trends
Lip
Fairly high rates are seen in some fair-skinned populations, notably in Canada, where rates are generally above 5. The highest are in Newfoundland (15.1) and Saskatchewan (12.3) (Fig. 23.1). Rates above 10 are seen in rural Rumania, southern Ireland, Queensland, Australia and Sicily. Most rates, however, are less than 5 and in Asia rates range from nil to 0.1. In Israel the incidence is close to that seen in Europe.
- Type
- Chapter
- Information
- Human CancerEpidemiology and Environmental Causes, pp. 247 - 255Publisher: Cambridge University PressPrint publication year: 1992