Mortality from cancer of the stomach, colon and rectum in the city of Naples and the provinces of Campania.

Utilizing data on deaths from 1951 to 1981, this study attempts to verify a time trend for stomach, colon and rectum cancer in the city of Naples. Time trend analysis and cohort analysis have shown an increase of colon rectum cancer mortality affecting cohorts born after 1871 and a decrease of stomach cancer mortality for those born after 1886. A comparison of mortality rates in three geographical areas shows that, while there is not any difference for stomach cancer, the mortality curves relating to cancer of the colon and rectum are higher in the city of Naples than in the province of Naples and the other provinces of Campania.