Objectives: The purpose of this study was to compare the incidence of digestive cancers in 9 French departments and to give an estimate of this incidence for the whole of France, based on this data.
Methods: This study focused on the 1983-1987 period. The record quality for the 9 included registries (Calvados, Côted'Or, Doubs, Haute-Garonne, Hérault, Isère, Bas-Rhin, Somme, Tarn) has been assessed by the National Committee of Registries. The crude incidence rates and those standardized according to the world population have been worked out per localization and per sex. Incidence and mortality rates per department as well as mortality rates for the whole of France have enabled the assessment of the incidence and number of new digestive cancer cases per year.
Results: Esophagus and liver cancers are distinguished by large incidence disparities, fluctuating in a ratio of 1 to 5, and by a high sex ratio. In other localizations, incidence rates vary in a ratio of 1 to 2. The incidence rates of digestive cancers were especialy high in the Bas-Rhin department. They tended to be higher in Côte-d'Or, Doubs, Calvados and Somme, than in Haute-Garonne. Hérault and Tarn. The estimated number of digestive cancers was 30,071 in males and 19,951 in females: colorectal cancer was particularly frequent, 14,179 cases and 12,228 cases, respectively.
Conclusion: There are some geographical variations, from one region to another, in digestive cancer incidence in France more pronounced for esophagus and liver cancers than for other localizations. Because of its frequency, colorectal cancer represents a serious problem for public health.