Objective  To investigate the incidence rate of upper digestive tract cancer in Cixian, China, a particular area with high incidence of esophageal cancer.

  Methods  Statistical analysis was performed on the 2003-2012 incidence data of upper digestive tract cancer in Cixian. The annual incidence rate, Chinese population standardized incidence rate (the bid rate), and structure of world population standardized incidence rate (referred to as the world standard rate) were calculated. The incidence data were divided into two groups according to period (2003-2007 and 2008-2012), and different age groups were compared.

  Results  From 2003 to 2012, the incidence of upper gastrointestinal cancer was 165.36/10 million. The 2003-2007 crude incidence rate was 171.55/10 million), whereas 2008-2012 crude incidence rate was 151.41/10 million which has reduced over the last five years. Esophageal cancer incidence from 2003 to 2012 had a crude incidence rate of 108.05/10 million during the two periods (from 2003 to 2007, the incidence rate was 116.87/10 million; and from 2008 to 2012, 99.58/10 million), the crude incidence rate of the latter 5-year period has declined obviously. From 2003 to 2012, the overall crude incidence rate of cardia cancer was 31.21/10 million, comparison of two peaiods (from 2003 to 2007 was 29.11/10 million, and 2008-2012, 33.23/10 million) indicated that the level of measurement of the latter period increased. At the same period, the overall incidence rate of gastric cancer was 26.10/10 million, comparison of the two periods (2003-2007 the crude incidence rate was 25.57/10 million, 2008-2012 was 26.60/10 million) indicated that the level of the parameter in the latter 5 years increased slightly.

  Conclusion  The incidence of esophageal cancer in Cixian decreased significantly, but the area remains to have the highest incidence rate of cardiac cancer morbidity. The incidence rate of distal gastric cancer increased significantly in males but decreased slightly in females, which suggests that early diagnosis and treatment of gastric cardia and distal stomach cancer is extremely important.