Oral cancer mortality in the province of Cordoba, Argentine Republic in the period 1975-2000. A comparative study with other populations.
Malignant neoplasm (MN) mortality worldwide ranks among the first four causes of death, in the 1990 decade (1-4). The aim of this work is to study the eight most frequent MN mortality rates, and especially that one caused by oral cancer (OC) in the province of Cordoba, Argentine Republic, in the period between 1975 and 2000, in order to analyze its characteristics and compare with other populations in America and Europe.


METHODS
The data were provided by the provincial and national Health Ministry and Globocan 2000.


RESULTS
The highest male rates were those of Slovakia and France, prevailing lung and bronchus tumors; whereas in females the highest rate was that of breast cancer in the United Kingdom and Germany, and lung cancer in the United States. Regarding to OC in the populations under study, Slovakia and France held the highest rates for both sexes, being Cordoba and Argentina among the lowest values, especially in women. Tongue was the most frequent site in Cordoba (43.5%), followed by salivary glands (23.7%). Male prevailed over female and the oldest ages were observed in the period 1995-2000. The mortality rates by MN in all sites increased 6.6% in both sexes, and by OC 77% in women within the period under study in Cordoba. Oral cancer is a serious problem for public health causing great morbidity and mortality, a situation that has not improved in decades. Mortality rates are an important tool towards implementation and planning of health policies and programs for cancer prevention.
Morelatto
Rosana Andrea
RA
Clinical Stomatology I and II B, National University of Cordoba, República Argentina.
López de Blanc
Silvia Adriana
SA
D000328:Adult; D000368:Aged; D000369:Aged, 80 and over; D001118:Argentina / Q000453:epidemiology; D005060:Europe / Q000453:epidemiology; D005260:Female; D006801:Humans; D008297:Male; D008875:Middle Aged; D009062:Mouth Neoplasms / Q000401:mortality*; D014481:United States / Q000453:epidemiology