Cancer of the mobile tongue in Finland - Increasing incidence, but improved survival

A population-based descriptive study was conducted to describe incidence an d survival of cancer of the mobile tongue in Finland between 1953 and 1994. Thr study included 1504 patients, drawn From the Finnish Cancer Registry, with first primary mobile tongue cancer diagnosed between 1953 and 1994. In cidence and relative survival were determined. The age-standardized overall incidence rats was 0.6 per 100000 years in 1953-1994. At the time of diagn osis 78% of the patients had either localized or regional disease. The age- standardized incidence rate decreased after the mid-1960s, but increased in the 1990s. The 5-year relative survival rate increased gradually From 40% in 1953-1959 to 58% in 1958-1994. Disease stage at the time of the diagnosi s strongly affected the survival rate. Survival increased especially in reg ional disease Cancer of the mobile tongue is increasing in Finland, but sur vival has increased particularly in regional disease. probably because of i mproved treatment. Early diagnosis is emphasized For a good prognosis.