This post is also available in: English Slovenščina (Slovenian)

BACKGROUNDS. Although head and neck cancers are not among the most frequent ones, they are important public health issue because of high mortality rates and their association with unhealthy lifestyle. In this paper, we present key epidemiological data, which represent the basis for efficient public health interventions. METHODS. We used incidence and mortality data for head and neck cancers (C00–C14, C30–C32, according to 10^th revision of the International Statistical Classification of Diseases and Related Health Problems) in Slovenia for the 1983–2012 period that are available from the website of the Cancer Registry of the Republic of Slovenia SLORA. For regional comparison and calculation of annual percent change, we used age-standardized rates adjusted according to the world standard population. RESULTS. The annual percentage change for head and neck cancer in Slovenian population was 0.8 % (95 % CI = –1.1; –0.6, p < 0.05). In men annual percent change for head and neck cancer was –1.6 % (95 % CI = –1.9; –1.3, p < 0.05), and in women it stood at 1.8 % (95 % CI = 1.3; 2.4, p < 0.05). Incidences of head and neck cancers are decreasing in most Slovenian regions. In men, the most frequent cancers are cancers of larynx and oropharynx whereas in women, cancers of oral cavity and oropharynx have highest incidence. Incidence of oral cavity cancer and cancer of oropharynx is statistically significantly increasing in women (p < 0.05). CONCLUSIONS. The incidence of head and neck cancers in general population is decreasing, but increasing in women, especially the incidence of oral cavity cancers and cancer of oropharynx. Additional analysis of possible causes is needed to implement appropriate public health measures.