The epidemiology of lip cancer: a review of global incidence and aetiology

Lip cancer (140 ICD-9) is a form of oral cancer that has a distinctive glob al epidemiology, This review summarises global incidence rates for male and female lip cancer with the aid of cancer atlases, High male lip cancer rat es are reported for regions of North America(12.7 per 100 000 per annum), E urope (12.0 per 100 000 per annum) and Oceania(13,5 per 100 000 per annum), while it is virtually unknown in parts of Asia. Factors commonly cited as important in the aetiology of lip cancer include solar radiation, tobacco s moking and viruses. An attempt is made to summarise the evidence for factor s that may be important in lip carcinogenesis. While incidence rates are ge nerally stable or falling among males worldwide, they are rising in many fe male populations. The aetiology of the disease is far from established and much information regarding its pathogenesis is based on anecdotal rather th an case-controlled epidemiological evidence. The epidemiology of lip cancer supports the proposal that the lip should be considered as a distinct canc er site, rather than being included with other forms of intraoral cancer.