title: Lung cancer epidemiology in North Sardinia, Italy.
abstract: BACKGROUND
  The aim of this study was to analyze and describe the epidemiological characteristics and trends of lung cancer in North Sardinia, Italy, in the period 1992-2010.
  
  
  METHODS
  Data were obtained from the tumor registry of Sassari province which is a part of a wider registry web, coordinated today by the Italian Association for Tumor Registries.
  
  
  RESULTS
  The overall number of lung cancer cases registered was 4,325. The male-to-female ratio was 4.6:1 and the mean age 68.1 years for males and 67 years for females. The standardized incidence rates were 73.1/100,000 and 13.5/100,000 and the standardized mortality rates 55.7/100,000 and 9.9/100,000 for males and females, respectively. An increasing trend in incidence of lung cancer in women was evidenced. Conversely, incidence was found to decrease in males. Relative survival at 5 years from diagnosis was low (8.8% for males and 14.9% for females). Furthermore, an increase in mortality rates was observed in both sexes in the period under investigation.
  
  
  CONCLUSIONS
  Our data show an increasing trend of lung cancer incidence in women in North Sardinia in the last decades. Conversely, a reduction of incidence rates was observed in males. Furthermore, a slightly increasing trend in mortality rates was observed in both sexes, suggesting the need to enhance smoking control strategies, consider adoption of effective surveillance policies, and improve diagnosis and treatment methods.
authors.affiliation: Department of Surgical, Microsurgical and Medical Sciences, University of Sassari, V. le San Pietro 43B, 07100, Sassari, Italy.
authors.forename: Panagiotis
authors.initials: P
authors.lastname: Paliogiannis
authors.affiliation: Department of Surgical, Microsurgical and Medical Sciences, University of Sassari, V. le San Pietro 43B, 07100, Sassari, Italy.
authors.forename: Federico
authors.initials: F
authors.lastname: Attene
authors.affiliation: Department of Surgical, Microsurgical and Medical Sciences, University of Sassari, V. le San Pietro 43B, 07100, Sassari, Italy.
authors.forename: Antonio
authors.initials: A
authors.lastname: Cossu
authors.affiliation: Service of Epidemiology, A.S.L. 1, Via Amendola 55, 07100, Sassari, Italy.
authors.forename: Mario
authors.initials: M
authors.lastname: Budroni
authors.affiliation: Service of Epidemiology, A.S.L. 1, Via Amendola 55, 07100, Sassari, Italy.
authors.forename: Rosaria
authors.initials: R
authors.lastname: Cesaraccio
authors.affiliation: Department of Surgical, Microsurgical and Medical Sciences, University of Sassari, V. le San Pietro 43B, 07100, Sassari, Italy.
authors.forename: Francesco
authors.initials: F
authors.lastname: Tanda
authors.affiliation: Department of Surgical, Microsurgical and Medical Sciences, University of Sassari, V. le San Pietro 43B, 07100, Sassari, Italy.
authors.forename: Mario
authors.initials: M
authors.lastname: Trignano
authors.affiliation: Institute of Biomolecular Chemistry, Cancer Genetics Unit, C.N.R., TraversaLa Crucca 3, 07040, Sassari, Italy.
authors.forename: Giuseppe
authors.initials: G
authors.lastname: Palmieri