Chapter 22 addresses the overall incidence of cancer. The following chapters, 23–57, summarize information in a fairly standard manner on the descriptive epidemiology and etiological factors for the principal cancer sites. The discussion for each site is subdivided into sections to preserve uniformity in presentation. On occasion, a section may be omitted for lack of data – in that event the layout given below is none the less maintained.

Introduction

A general statement on the major feature(s) of cancer at this site.

Histology, classification and diagnosis

Outlines information on pathogenesis, histological classification, and diagnosis and their relevance to epidemiological and etiological evaluation.

Descriptive epidemiology

This section summarizes the major features of the epidemiology of the cancer in question. It supplements the material in Appendix 1 at the end of the book and the summarizing histogram for each chapter. Incidence figures, age-adjusted to the ‘world’ standard population are given as average annual rates per 105 with the (exception of Chapter 58 where they are present in rates per 106). Normally the words ‘average annual age adjusted per 105’ are omitted.

The histogram covers a group of ‘standard’ populations representative of the major geographical regions in the world.