ABSTRACT
Our knowledge regarding the epidemiology of pancreatobiliary cancers in Iran is limited. This study presents the first population-based report on pancreatobiliary cancers performed in five provinces of Iran. Data used in this study were retrieved from population-based cancer registries in five provinces of Iran [Gilan, Mazandaran, Golestan, Ardabil and Kerman] from 1996 to 2000. Crude incidence rate, age standardized incidence rate [ASR] and age specific incidence rate were calculated for each cancer sites using the direct method. Overall ASR of pancreatic cancer in five provinces was 1.18 and 0.84 per 100, 000 person-years for men and women, respectively. These values for gallbladder and biliary tract cancers were 0.42 and 0.27 per 100, 000 person-years for men and 0.93 and 0.22 per 100, 000 person-years for women, respectively. ASR of pancreatobiliary cancer is low in Iran compared to western countries