Ethnic-related incidence of ovarian carcinoma in New York City

A two-part statistical study of ovarian cancer in the population of New York City was conducted in an effort to explain the striking racial differences in the incidence of death from this disease. The first part of the study comprised an examination of 487 death certificates from case reports in 1964 and 387 in 1974, with emphasis on race and religion, and revealed that there is 1) a lower incidence of ovarian cancer among nonwhite than white women and 2) a greater mortality from cancer of the ovary among Jewish than non-Jewish women. The second part entailed a review of 143 records from hospitals in New York City from which more precise data, such as history and treatment, were available. The review enabled us to confirm diagnoses and to investigate whether specific clinical features are directly related to racial incidence. No etiologic factors could be correlated with the disease, but further epidemiologic studies are warranted.