[Epidemiology and natural history of cancer of the upper respiratory-digestive tract]

Squamous cell carcinoma of the upper aero-digestive tract represents 86% of all malignant neoplasms developing in the head and neck. In Italy a comparison of the standardized incidence data shows that such cancer is more frequent in the northern than in the central and southern parts of the country. Males are more often affected than females. After considering the most important risk factors the authors analyze the epidemiology and natural history of cancer of each organ of the head and neck.