[Estimating the incidence of cancer in the VC Local Health Authority in Vercelli (Italy) from 2002 to 2005].

The aim of this study was to describe the epidemiology of tumours in a geographical area in Italy devoid of a tumour registry. A descriptive study was conducted in the territory of the VC local health authority. To estimate incidence, hospital discharge forms were analysed together with data from pathology archives. The standardized incidence rate (SIR) was calculated by using age specific rates in the VC local health authority in the years 2002-2005 and the tumour incidence in the city of Turin as the standard population. As regards low mortality tumours, an excess of bladder cancers (SIR=1,2; 1,1-1,3) and melanomas (SIR=1,3; 1,1-1,6) were found in males and of thyroid cancer (SIR=1,9; 1,6-2,2) and non-Hodgkin lymphomas (SIR=1,4; 1,2-1,6) in females. In addition, an excess of rectal and colon cancers, and leukemia were observed in both genders and of central nervous system tumours in women. This preliminary study may be considered as a basis for the creation of a tumour registry which would necessarily need to integrate additional sources of information. In any case the results of this study have identified certain peculiarities regarding the epidemiology of tumours in this area, which should be further studied in terms of a Public Health problem.