title: Epidemiology of oral cavity cancer in taiwan with emphasis on the role of betel nut chewing.
abstract: This article reports the epidemiological characteristics and the possible contributing etiology of oral cavity cancer in Taiwan. Data on oral cavity cancer from the period between 1986 and 1997 were compiled from the Taiwan Cancer Registry Annual Report. The amount of average annual consumption per person of cigarettes, alcohol and betel nut were extracted from the Annual Report of Taiwan Tobacco and Wine Monopoly Bureau and the Agriculture Counsel of Taiwan. The incidence of oral cavity cancer increased annually. Both the total and male incidence have increased substantially since 1993. Regarding the peak incidence, most cases were seen in the sixth to eighth decades of life. Multiple regression models indicated that 86.2% variation in the incidence of oral cavity cancer was explained by the annual average betel nut consumption per person. These results imply that those who chew betel nut belong to a high-risk group and require special consideration and attention regarding health education and health promotion.
authors.affiliation: Department of Otolaryngology--Head & Neck Surgery, Tri-Service General Hospital, Taipei, Taiwan, ROC. yskuolin@mail.ndmctsgh.edu.tw
authors.forename: Yaoh-Shiang
authors.initials: YS
authors.lastname: Lin
authors.forename: Yee-Min
authors.initials: YM
authors.lastname: Jen
authors.forename: Bill-B
authors.initials: BB
authors.lastname: Wang
authors.forename: Jih-Chin
authors.initials: JC
authors.lastname: Lee
authors.forename: Bor-Hwang
authors.initials: BH
authors.lastname: Kang
mesh_terms: D000328:Adult; D000367:Age Factors; D000368:Aged; D000369:Aged, 80 and over; D000428:Alcohol Drinking / Q000453:epidemiology; D001114:Areca / Q000009:adverse effects*; D016021:Epidemiologic Studies; D005260:Female; D005887:Gingival Neoplasms / Q000453:epidemiology; D006801:Humans; D015994:Incidence; D008048:Lip Neoplasms / Q000453:epidemiology; D008297:Male; D008875:Middle Aged; D009062:Mouth Neoplasms / Q000453:epidemiology*; D010157:Palatal Neoplasms / Q000453:epidemiology; D012307:Risk Factors; D012737:Sex Factors; D012907:Smoking / Q000453:epidemiology; D013624:Taiwan / Q000453:epidemiology; D014062:Tongue Neoplasms / Q000453:epidemiology