Geographical patterns of cancer mortality in Argentina.

Mortality rates in 1980, for the major cancer sites, are presented for Argentina as a whole, and for the 22 provinces, the capital city, and the southern territories. In comparison with other countries, national mortality rates are high for oesophageal cancer and cancer of the larynx, and moderately elevated for cancers of the lung, colon, breast, and bladder in males. The rates of tobacco-related cancers (lung, bladder and larynx) were much higher in males than females, and in males showed similar geographical patterns. In females, breast cancer rates by province showed a positive correlation with those for cancer of the colon, and a negative correlation with cervical cancer. There were marked geographical variations, quite different in the two sexes, in the mortality from oesophageal cancer. It is suggested that, although some of these variations within Argentina may be related to ethnic differences and patterns of migration from neighbouring countries, for the majority the explanations must lie in different exposures to environmental of lifestyle factors, such as diet.