The pattern of lip cancer occurrence over the 1990-2011 period in public hospitals in Madrid, Spain

Background Some regions of Spain along with Canada and Australia have the highest rates of lip cancer in the world. The objective of this study was to examine the trends in the pattern of occurrence of lip cancer in Madrid, Spain. Methods Data were extracted from the Central Tumour Registry of Madrid, between 1990 and 2011. Variables examined were age, sex, topographic and morphological location and tumour histology. Two consecutive periods, 1990–2001 and 2002–2011, were studied by descriptive and analytical methods, and the data from the two periods were statistically compared. Results A total of 881 cases were registered during the period 1990–2011. Comparing data between the two periods (1990–2001 and 2002–2011), subtle variations in age, histology and location were noted. Gender ratios remained constant. The mean age increased from 66.3 to 69.7 years (P