HEAD AND NECK-CANCER IN THE SOUTH-WEST OF ENGLAND - INFLUENCE OF SOCIOECONOMIC-STATUS ON INCIDENCE AND 2ND PRIMARY TUMORS

This study examined possible links between the incidence of head and n eck squamous cell carcinoma (HNSCC) and social deprivation, Data on al l HNSCC registered between 1985 and 1991 in the South West of England were collected, Excluding tumours of the lip and skin there were 1570 cases, 72% in males. Of these, 1467 were identified as first primary t umours, Corrected chi-squared tests, accepting significance at the 5% level, were used to examine the association of socio-economic status ( Carstairs index) with incidence at different sites, Overall, the incid ence of HNSCC was higher in the socially deprived group, In males, the most deprived group had a significantly higher incidence of oral carc inoma than all other groups (P<0.05), whereas the incidence of larynge al carcinoma showed a gradual rise with increasing deprivation. In fem ales, where numbers were relatively low, the trend remained, but was l ess clear, In total, seventy-two (4.9%) cases went on to develop a sec ond primary, of which 35% were in the lung and 13% in the bladder, Soc ioeconomic status did not affect the development of a second primary t umour, The association of HNSCC with carcinoma of the bladder is a new finding.