[Incidence and regional distribution of colorectal cancers in Austria]

Based on data obtained from the official Austrian cancer registry, we evaluated the incidence of, and death rate from cancer of the colon and rectum. The increase in the incidence of colorectal cancer in Austria is comparable to that of other western industrial countries. There is an estimated rise in the annual figures of newly registered patients from 3174 in 1971 to 3981 cases in 1981. Regional distribution within Austria is not homogeneous: the highest risk of disease was observed in Vienna (60 new cases per year per 100000 inhabitants), the lowest in Tyrol with 40 new cases per 100000. The marked east-west slope in the incidence of colorectal cancer in Austria is a good basis for the investigation of pathogenetic factors.