High-risk factors in gynecologic cancer

Cancer. 1981 Jul 15;48(2 Suppl):429-41. doi: 10.1002/1097-0142(19810715)48:1+<429::aid-cncr2820481303>3.0.co;2-2.

Abstract

Cervical cancer retains its character as a venereal disease associated with infections and multiple sexual partners, but poverty also is important. Precise incidence figures for cervical and endometrial cancer are almost nonexistent because in areas with precise case counts there is rarely accurate knowledge of hysterectomy prevalence. For endometrial cancer little recent attention has been paid to any risk factor except exogenous estrogen. It is now suggested that a low pregnancy rate is a cause, not a consequence, of ovarian pathology leading to cancer. Some progress has been made in separating the epidemiologies of various kinds of ovarian and uterine cancer. A few clues are available regarding the epidemiology of fallopian tube cancers and vaginal cancers other than those produced by maternal stilbestrol. Vulvar cancer becomes common only after the age of 75 and so has been neglected epidemiologically.

Publication types

  • Research Support, U.S. Gov't, P.H.S.
  • Review

MeSH terms

  • Adenocarcinoma / epidemiology
  • Age Factors
  • Carcinoma, Squamous Cell / epidemiology
  • Ethnicity
  • Fallopian Tube Neoplasms / epidemiology
  • Female
  • Genital Neoplasms, Female / epidemiology*
  • Humans
  • Melanoma / epidemiology
  • Ovarian Neoplasms / epidemiology
  • Parity
  • Risk
  • Sexual Behavior
  • Socioeconomic Factors
  • United States
  • Uterine Neoplasms / epidemiology
  • Vaginal Neoplasms / epidemiology
  • Vulvar Neoplasms / epidemiology