Cancer of the stomach (ICD-9 151)

This category includes adenocarcinoma of the cardia and oesophagus when doubtful whether the oesophagus or stomach is the primary site.

Maps for stomach cancer are identical for men and women, and for mortality and incidence, but the rates for females are 40-50% of those of males. Incidence rates were highest in Russia (males 542/10⁶, females 247/10⁶) and Belarus, and lowest in Denmark (males 118/10⁶, females 56/10⁶), Sweden and Norway. The mortality rates were typically 80-90% of the incidence rates except in Poland where the official mortality exceeded incidence.

There was a three-fold incidence in the former Soviet countries in ages between 40 and 60 in comparison to the other countries. In the oldest age groups the incidence in those countries turned to a decrease and was finally lower than in other countries.

The Polish mortality/incidence ratio suggests an underregistration of incident cases or overclassification of stomach cancer deaths. A socioeconomic variation (most likely attributable to dietary conditions, including, e.g., Helicobacter pylori infection) is clearly visible on the maps. Similarity in maps for males and females suggests aetiological factors which are common in the environment of all family members. Diet fulfills this criterium.