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Robinson KL, Macfarlane GJ et al. Oral Oncol 2003; 39: 31–36

A rise in oral and pharyngeal cancer has been documented in all parts of the UK over the past 30 years. The present study considered incidence of these tumours in Scotland for 1965–1997 and mortality data from 1950–1998.

From 1989 to 1996, incidence in the 35–64 yr age group increased by 31% in males and 16% in females. For all ages, respective increases were 21% and 26%. However, mortality rates in these 4 groups changed little from 1989 to 1997: respectively per 100,000 they changed from 7.7–8.1, 2.3–2.3, 4.2–4.3 and 1.4–1.6.

The main known risk factors are tobacco and alcohol use, with a strong synergistic effect between them. However, for younger people with less exposure to these environmental factors, the authors consider that genetic predisposition may also be important. Their data suggest that survival rates may also be improving.