Incidence rates of the cancer registry of the department of Calvados were compared, by site and by age group, with those obtained from the cancer registry of the comprehensive cancer center in Caen, concerning the population of the department of Calvados. In males, these rates are approximately similar for head and neck sites; for the hospital registry they are 50% of those recorded by the population registry for lung cancer, and 30% for prostatic cancer. In females, the all-sites rates are nearly identical for the youngest age groups and 50% for the older. They are not significantly different for digestive cancer, and 75% for cervix and breast cancer. The incidence rates of both registries were compared with mortality rates. They indicate mortality rates which appear relatively high for the pancreas, and they show imprecisions for the uterus and head and neck (pharynx-larynx) sites.