Methods: Data were derived from the Israel National Cancer Registry and included all registered data between 1970 and 2006. Analysis of distribution was varied by age, gender, ethnic group and correlated with external upper (EUL), lower (ELL) and internal (IL) lips cases.
Results: Total number of lip cancer cases was 4356, 55% in the ELL and IL the least prevalent site. In the EUL, the most prevalent tumor was Basal cell carcinoma (BCC) and for all other sites the most prevalent was Squamous cell carcinoma (SCC). No significant differences were found in the survival rates by location of lip cancer and ranged from 77% to 82%. Highest number of cases was among people over the age of 65. Among males the majority (63%) of cases were in the ELL while among females 58.9% were in the EUL. For external lips, Arabs had higher percentages of EUL cancer (57%) than Jews (47%) . In younger than 20, 63% of carcinomas were in the ELL, and among over 65 years of age the difference between EUL and ELL was reduced. The incidence rate of lip cancer was higher in 1986-1992, and then decreased till 2006.
Conclusions: Lip cancer is the most prevalent cancer in the oral region in Israel. Males and people over 65 are at higher risk. BCC should be considered in differential diagnosis of EUL lesions. The decreasing trend is encouraging and may imply higher awareness or different occupational hazards.