| Demographic Group: | All resident persons. |
| Numerator: | Deaths with International Classification of Diseases (ICD)-10 codes C00–C14 (ICD-9 codes 140–149) as the underlying cause of death among residents during a calendar year. |
| Denominator: | Midyear resident population for the same calendar year. |
| Measures of Frequency: | Annual number of deaths. Annual mortality rate — crude and age-adjusted (standardized by the direct method to the year 2000 standard U.S. population based on single years of age from the Census P25-1130 series estimates*) — with 95% confidence interval. |
| Time Period of Case Definition: | Calendar year. |
| Background: | During 2001, cancer of the oral cavity and pharynx caused approximately 7,800 deaths, and 30,100 new cases are diagnosed annually. The 5-year survival rate is approximately 50%, among the lowest of most common cancers. |
| Significance: | Cancer of the oral cavity and pharynx is associated with use of tobacco products and excessive alcohol use. Together, tobacco and alcohol use account for approximately 75% of all oral cancers in the United States. |
| Limitations of Indicator: | Because cancer of the oral cavity and pharynx can have a long latency period, years might pass before changes in behavior or clinical practice affect population mortality. |
| Data Resources: | Death certificate data from vital statistics agencies (numerator) and population estimates from the U.S. Bureau of the Census or suitable alternative (denominator).
http://apps.nccd.cdc.gov/uscs/Table.aspx?Group=TableGeo&Year=2001&Display=n |
| Limitations of Data Resources: | Causes of death and other variables listed on the death certificate might be inaccurate. |
| Healthy People 2010 Objectives: | 3-6: Reduce the oropharyngeal cancer death rate. |
