Tongue cancer epidemiology in Brazil: incidence, morbidity and mortality.

BACKGROUND: The purpose of this current research was to clarify for the scientific community the trends of tongue cancer epidemiology in Brazil.

METHODS: The data came from Population Based Cancer Registries, Hospital Cancer Registries, and Mortality Information System from 2000 to 2014.

RESULTS: The age-adjusted incidence rate are increasing in both men and women for base of tongue cancer and for other and unspecified parts of the tongue in women, and decreasing in men for other and unspecified parts of the tongue. The majority of cases were diagnosed at clinical stages III and IV. The mortality rate remained relatively stable in both men and women in the period studied.

CONCLUSION: The increase in age-adjusted incidence rate for tongue cancers (except for other and unspecified parts of the tongue in men), with most patients over 50 years of age, with low education levels, and advanced disease reinforces the need for interventions that address access to health promotion resources and medical care in Brazil.