Geographical Distribution of Biliary Tract Cancer in Niigata Prefecture

Abstract

We reviewed 1074 surgically treated patients with biliary tract cancer (gallbladder 564, bile duct 510) in Nilgata prefecture in the five-year period from 1982 to 1986. Analyses of regional distributions revealed the incidence of gallbladder cancer to be highest in the Ka-etsu district (northern part of prefecture) and lowest in the Jo-etsu district (south-western part of prefecture). The incidence of bile duct cancer was highest in the district controlled by the most northern public health center and lowest in Chu-etsu district (central part of prefecture). The incidences of gallbladder and bile duct cancers showed regional variations within the prefecture, localization being more pronounced for gallbladder cancer.