[Tumors of the renal pelvis and ureter in Denmark in the period 1943-1986. Cancer statistics no. 28].

A review based on data from the Cancer Register reveals that the age-standardized incidence rate of tumours of the renal pelvis and ureter in Denmark has increased more than ten-fold where both men and women are concerned during the 40 year period from 1943 to 1982. A random control sample suggest underreporting of pelvic tumours of 8% and it is known from previous investigations that 95-98% of all known cases of tumour are registered in the Cancer Register. These circumstances suggest a greater increase in the incidence than that registered in the present article. Where tumours of the renal pelvis in men are concerned, however, the development was reversed in the middle of the nineteen seventies with a decrease in the incidence continuing to the conclusion of the period of this review in 1986. The decrease in tumours of the renal pelvis in men is observed particularly in the capital and in rural districts. A possible cause of this decrease is reduction of tobacco consumption in men. The incidence of tumours of the ureter in men is still increasing but the account is based on few observations. Possible reasons for the uninterrupted increase in incidence of tumours of the renal pelvis and ureter in women continuing until the conclusion of the period of registration is the increasing tobacco consumption which has been observed in women and consumption of phenacetin before this preparation was deleted from the drug register in Denmark.