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Time independence of the selection of autopsy material of the Institute of Pathology of the University of Heidelberg can be assumed as all factors depending on this selection show a remarkable steadiness during the period covered: The mean age of death of patients on whom an autopsy was performed and was not performed is the same, the sex ratio remains unchanged, the number of persons who died in the Heidelberg area has decreased only slightly, and the percentage of dead patients with last residence in this area that were autopsied also remains unchanged. By documenting all pathoanatomic diseases without separating the cause of death, the crude and age-specific incidence of lung, colon, breast, and gastric cancer can be estimated from the beginning of this century up to the present time. The data given in this paper show a decrease of the risk of gastric cancer at younger ages, a quite steady risk of colon cancer, and a steeply increasing risk of lung and breast cancer. The epidemiologic meaning of these data is discussed briefly.

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The frequency of oesophageal carcinoma among autopsies performed in the Institute of Pathology in Heidelberg between 1900 and 1979 is estimated and compared with the findings of the patho-anatomically based Regional Cancer Registry of North Baden. The autopsy data suggest that there is no increase in the percentage of oesophageal carcinoma in the area of Heidelberg during the period considered. The average age of oesophageal carcinoma patients at death remained nearly unchanged during the study period, while the average age of death for all autopsies showed a steep increase. In a retrospective study of the registry data, oesophageal carcinoma patients showed a higher percentage of alcohol consumers and heavy smokers over patients with stomach, colon, and rectal cancer. The retrospective study of clinical findings further revealed liver cirrhosis in 8%. This was not documented in patients with other gastro-intestinal carcinomas. The results obtained suggest that patho-anatomical data may be useful for checking the applicability of results obtained elsewhere.

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