Carcinoma of the alimentary canal -- a statistical study based on autopsy data from 1928 to 1972

An analysis of autopsy data shows that during the period 1928-1972 the relative frequency of carcinoma of the stomach has remained practically unchanged. A similar trend is apparent from the mortality statistics for Vienna from 1955 to 1972. Whereas for the lower and middle age groups there is a real decrease during the period 1928-1952, an opposite trend is visible for the highest age group. The stomach and the lower parts of the large intestine are the most frequent sites of carcinoma of the alimentary canal. The frequency distribution is explained on the basis of the "contact hypothesis".