[Colorectal cancer--epidemiologic aspects].

Since 1971 the incidence of large bowel cancer in Austria has been higher than that of any other neoplastic disease. In 1983 it affected 3778 men and women, representing 14.8% of all malignancies. Concrete suggestions for an improvement of data collecting for the National Cancer Registry and the installation of a National Polyp Study are made. In the eastern parts of Austria the risk for the development of colorectal carcinoma is twice as high as in the western parts of the country. Environmental risk factors are discussed.