[Trends in the Incidence of Major Salivary Gland Cancer in Spain (1978-2002)]

Objective: To analyze the trend in the incidence rates of major salivary gland cancer in population-based cancer registries in Spain.

Methods: The following Spanish cancer registries with a minimum follow-up period of 10 years were selected: Albacete, Asturias, Granada, Murcia, Navarre, Tarragona and Zaragoza. Adjusted incidence rates were calculated. Joinpoint software was utilized to calculate change estimations in incidence rates for the period 1991-2001.

Results: Joinpoint analysis revealed a statistically significant decreasing trend with an annual percent change of -5.3% (95% CI: -8.7 to -1.8).

Conclusion: The incidence of major salivary gland cancers in Spain was low and a decreasing trend was identified between 1991 and 2001.