The role of autopsy in cancer registration in Sweden, with special reference to findings in Malmö.

The role of a high autopsy frequency in the registration of cancer cases in a population was studied in the region of southern Sweden, in particular in Malmö. Due to a declining autopsy frequency the number of incidentally found cancer cases at autopsy has diminished greatly during the past 10 years. The value of the reports from cancer registries regarding the total number of tumours in a population is thus doubtful. In order to follow the real frequency of tumours, centres ought to be established where a high autopsy frequency can be achieved.