Cancer of the pancreas.Available epidemiologic information and its implications

Cancer of the pancreas is the fourth leading cause of death among all sites of cancer in the United States. Very little is known about the epidemiology of the disease. Available data on incidence and mortality are examined to determine epidemiologic patterns. Racial differences in incidence/mortality data and their relation to industrial hazards, quality of medical care, and geographic distribution of cancer are discussed. The need for more definitive studies is noted, and suggestions for areas of future work are made.