[Epidemiology of bronchial carcinoma]

The epidemiological data collected suggest increasing occurrence of bronchial carcinoma throughout the world. The trend in mortality, and incidence if the latter is explored, reveal, with rare exceptions, a still increasing tendency. Separate evidence is presented from epidemiological surveys which suggest rising risk factor prevalence, above all smoking and occupational exposures. Descriptive and analytical epidemiology may considerably contribute to the fight against cancer, in particular to its prevention. Unfortunately, in many European countries no cancer records are maintained even for the most diseminated malignancy, i.e. bronchial carcinoma.