Modern civilization, urbanization, industrialization, changes in daily life style, population growth and aging all have contributed to epidemiological changes in many diseases, including cancer in India and other countries. Knowledge based on epidemiological patterns and trends would be of great help in identifying persons at high risk for the development of a particular cancer and also forms the scientific basis for the planning and organization of prevention, diagnosis and treatment of cancer in a community. An attempt was made to study the age, sex, site and histopathological type of malignancy occurring in the population reported in our hospital in the last four years. Of the total 18540 cases received for histopathological evaluation, 2560 cases (13.8%) were diagnosed as malignant. Among them 1364 cases (53%) were females and 1196 cases (47%) were males. 41­60 years (53%) of age range constituted maximum number of cases. Cervix was the most common site of malignancy in females and oesophagus and oral cavity in males. Squamous cell carcinoma was the most common type followed by adenocarcinoma in various sites. Lymphoma, sarcoma, germ cell tumors and metastatic deposits were among others reported.

Keywords: Adenocarcinoma; Cervix; Malignancy; Oesophagus; Oral Cavity; Squamous Cell Carcinoma.N