[Changes in the age of illness onset in cancer of the hypopharynx and larynx since 1960. The epidemiologic context in Austria].

Between 1960 and 1987, 1567 laryngeal and hypopharyngeal carcinomas were diagnosed at the First ENT Clinic of Vienna University. Patients under 50 years of age increased steadily in number and proportion. Three subgroups of carcinomas were considered: glottic (including subglottic), supraglottic and hypopharyngeal. A total of 1442 cases could be studied in detail. In the supraglottic and hypopharyngeal groups the proportion under 50 years of age rose significantly, whereas in the glottic cases no significant trend is discernible. The subgroups were standardized in 10-year age groups to the population of eastern Austria. The incidence was constant in females. In males two opposite trends were found: in glottic tumours the proportion of middle-aged patients shows a slight decrease, whereas older age groups show a significant decrease. In hypopharyngeal carcinoma, younger age groups show a highly significant increase and the older age groups a slight decrease. Supraglottic carcinoma was intermediate: in younger age groups, a slight increase was found compared with a marked decrease in older ages. The age-specific regional mortality showed a pattern similar to that of the supraglottic and hypopharyngeal tumours seen at our clinic. The alcohol and tobacco consumption of all male patients between 1977 and 1983 was reviewed. Heavy smoking was about equally frequent for all tumour sites. High alcohol intake was more frequent in supraglottic and hypopharyngeal than in glottic tumours, and more frequent in younger than in older patients. Tobacco smoke acts as a carcinogen in the long run, and this effect can be enhanced by heavy drinking.(ABSTRACT TRUNCATED AT 250 WORDS)