The Incidence of Cancer in Pittsburgh and Allegheny County, Pennsylvania, 1937

Abstract

The survey revealed a total of 6,103 cases either under medical care or observation, or dying of cancer during the year 1937. There were filed during the year in this area 1,744 death certificates that listed cancer as a cause of death. The ratio of all resident cases seen in 1937 to resident deaths was 2.9 to 1. This ratio indicates a case rate of at least 319 per 100,000. The error in this survey is on the side of underreporting, and so the figures establish a minimum prevalence, somewhat below the true figure. The maximum of underreporting is probably about 34% (the % of resident deaths that were unreported). The actual underreporting of cases under treatment is probably considerably less than this, but cases under observation only tend to be reported much less completely. The diagnosis was confirmed by microscopic examination in 62% of the cases reported. The use of tissue examinations varied with the accessibility of the site involved. The 3 most important primary sites among [male][male] were digestive tract, genitourinary system, and skin; for females, genitourinary system, breast, and digestive tract. Malignant neoplasms of these sites constituted 70% of the cases among [male][male]. and 79% of those among [female][female]. Very great differences exist in the relative fatality of malignant growths occurring in various sites. The brain, digestive tract, and respiratory system are the sites with the lowest ratio of cases to deaths. 18% of all the cases reported were under 45 yrs. of age. The median age was 57 yrs.; it was 59 for [male][male] and 56 for [female][female]. The cases among [male][male] tend to be concentrated in the older ages considerably more than do those among [female][female]. This results from the fact that 2/3 of the malignant growths of the breast and genitourinary system among [female][female] occur in the age group 45-70. Study of the duration of the cases revealed that 42% of all cases reported had a duration of less than 6 mos. 59% of the dead cases had been first diagnosed as malignant less than 6 mos. before death and 80% of them less than 12 mos. before death. 5% of the total cases reported had a duration of 5 yrs. or over. The duration varied widely among the different sites. Cases of malignant growths of the brain and respiratory system had the shortest duration and those of the breast, skin, and buccal cavity, the longest duration.