Familial aggregation of tumors and detection of hereditary non-polyposis colorectal cancer in 3-year experience of 2 population-based colorectal-cancer registries.

The clinical data of 2 population-based registries, located in areas with different incidence rates of colorectal cancer, were used in order to assess the role of familial factors in the pathogenesis of these tumors. The occurrence of tumors in family members was investigated in 389 subjects with colorectal cancer registered in Modena (Northern Italy, an area characterized by a high incidence of colorectal malignancies) between 1984 and 1986; similar information was obtained in 213 patients with tumors of the large bowel registered in Ragusa (Sicily, Southern Italy, an area of similar magnitude and with low incidence rates for these tumors) in the 3-year period 1988 to 1990. In both series, colorectal cancer occurred significantly more often among relatives of patients.

Cancers of the female genital tract in Ragusa, Sicily.

A descriptive study of cancers of the female genital tract (cervix, endometrium, ovary, labia, vulva and vagina) in the province of Ragusa (Sicily) was carried out using incidence and mortality data of the Ragusa Cancer Registry, covering the years 1981-1987. Corpus uteri was the most frequent site of cancer, followed by cervix utery and ovary; the highest mortality rates were exhibited by ovary cancer, whose survival at five years was 18.1 percent.

[Analysis of the quality of death certificates for neoplasms in the province of Ragusa].

The reliability of the death certificates issued in Ragusa for 379 of the 909 cancer patients registered in 1986 by the Ragusa Cancer Registry, who had died within 31 october 1988, was investigated. Data were available for 365 cases deceased. A consistent proportion (32.

Epidemiological aspects of hepatitis B in Palermo: changes in HBV spread.

Prevalence of HBV infection in Palermo was investigated in 1989, in comparison with similar data observed in 1982. Between September 1988 and April 1989, 1001 serum samples taken from healthy individuals or from patients with pathology unrelated to liver diseases, in the age groups 0 to 59 years, were collected. Prevalence of HBsAg and anti-HBc was, respectively, 2.

Risk factors of nonmelanoma skin cancer in Ragusa, Sicily: a case-control study.

A case-control study on 133 consecutive incident cases of nonmelanoma skin cancer registered by Cancer Registry of Ragusa (Sicily) was carried out in order to evaluate the correspondence between risk factors observed in other geographic areas with those of a Latin country with a strong solar exposure. A multivariate analysis showed that family history of skin cancer, cancer-related cutaneous diseases, fair skin color, residence more than 400 meters above sea level, and prolonged solar exposure without protection, significantly and independently increase the risk of skin cancer. Ease of suntanning was an important protective factor.