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Lip cancer (ICD-9 140) In males, the highest incidence rates were in Belarus (63/10 6), Finland, Lithuania, Latvia and Russia, and the lowest rate in Germany (below 20/106). Large variations took place within countries, the larger cities typically showing low incidence rates (only some 30% of the rate of the rural areas).The mortality rates were highest (6-9/10 6) in the post-socialistic countries except the former GDR, and very low in the remaining countries. The mortality/incidence ratio was 0.05 in Finland and Sweden, whereas the ratio was around 0.20 in Poland and Estonia.Age curves were similar in all countries, with the average age at diagnosis above 65. Lip cancer in women is 6-8 times less frequent than in men. The geographical patterns for females therefore include much random variation, but the incidence map still greatly resembles that of men. Comment In some countries skin cancers in the lip area may be reported as lip cancer, which may weaken the comparability between areas. The most important aetiological factor for lip cancer is outdoor work, especially when combined with smoking. The risk is largest in farmers and fishermen. The observed patterns seem to fit to this aetiological background.
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