Increasing occurrence of oropharyngeal cancers among males in Slovakia

The gradual decline of oropharyngeal cancers in postwar period was followed by their rapid increase during recent two decades among males in Slovakia. Overall age-adjusted incidence rates of cancers of oral cavity and pharynx increased from 4.5 in 1968-1970 to 20.7 in 1990-1992 and corresponding mortality rates from 2.8 to 14.0 per 100,000 males. Oropharyngeal cancers have recently accounted for 6.5% of all newly diagnosed cancers yearly and present the fourth most frequent cancer site among males in this country. The cancers of tongue, floor of mouth, oropharynx and hypopharynx are responsible for the dramatic increase of this combined site in males. The culmination of the age-specific incidence and mortality rates of these cancers in the age groups 40-59 confirms the leading role of middle-aged men in their increase and dominant position. The occurrence of cancers of major salivary glands and nasopharynx in males, as well as the incidence and mortality rates of all oropharyngeal cancers in females remained very low and an unchanged (less than 1% of total). Increasing and extremely high incidence and mortality rates from oropharyngeal cancers among males in Slovakia require more effective primary prevention, above all substantial reduction of smoking.