The epidemiology of malignant neoplasms of the nasal cavities, the paranasal sinuses and the middle ear in Canada.

Canadian patterns of morbidity and mortality from malignancies of the nasal cavities, the paranasal sinuses and the middle ear for the periods 1970-1980 and 1970-1984 have been examined. Age-standardized morbidity rates have not changed significantly during 1970-1980 for either males (P = 0.65) or females (P = 0.96). Analysis of age-specific morbidity rates revealed that rates of change for male rates have also remained stable during this period for all age groups studied (P greater than 0.29). For females, rates of change for seven of eight age groups examined also failed to achieve statistical significance (P greater than 0.30). However, rates for females aged 45-54 have shown an increase of 0.35 additional new cases per 1,000,000 population per year. This finding is of borderline significance (P = 0.051). In contrast, age-standardized mortality rates have declined significantly during 1970-1984 by, on average, 0.08 and 0.07 fewer deaths per 1,000,000 population per year in males and females respectively. Analysis of age-specific mortality rates reveals that the declines in mortality are attributable to significant reductions in age-specific rates for males aged 65-74 and 85+ and females aged 0-24, 55-64, and 85+. In these groups rates have declined by as much as 4.1 fewer deaths per 1,000,000 population per year (P less than 0.045).