Geographic differences and time trends of intraoral cancer incidence and mortality in Bavaria, Germany.

OBJECTIVE

To examine possible geographic differences and time trends of intraoral cancer (IOC) incidence and mortality in Bavaria between 2002 and 2008.

METHODS

Incidence data for IOC (ICD-10 codes, C01-C06) were obtained from the population-based cancer registry Bavaria. Age-specific and age-standardised IOC incidence and mortality rates in Bavaria and its regions were calculated separately by sex and year of diagnosis.

RESULTS

We found an excess incidence of 34% and 25% among men and women in Upper Franconia compared to Bavaria. Incidence and mortality related to IOC in Bavaria are comparable to those found in other European cancer registries. IOC mortality appears to decrease over time in both sexes, whereas IOC incidence appears to decrease only in men.

CONCLUSIONS

The observed geographic differences with respect to IOC incidence and mortality in Bavaria may possibly be explained in part by socioeconomic differences.