Pancreatic Cancer in the Faroe Islands: An Epidemiologic Study of Patients with Pancreatic Cancer in the Faroe Islands 1972–82

An epidemiologic study of pancreatic cancer was performed in the Faroe Islands,
which have 44,000 inhabitants. All the patients with this diagnosis in the period 1972-
82 were reviewed. The material comprised 57 patients. The diagnosis was confirmed
microscopically in 67%, by explorative laporatomy in 28%, and by endoscopic
retrograde cholangiopancreatography in 5% of the patients. The average annual agestandardized incidence per 100,000 inhabitants (world standard) was 10.7 among men
and 7.9 among women. The incidence of pancreatic cancer on the Faroe Islands is
at the same high level as in the other Scandinavian countries, suggesting that industrial
pollution has no pathogenic role. Nor could diseases or environmental, occupational,
or familial factors be identified in the development of pancreatic cancer. High
intake of lipids, available carbohydrates, and alcohol can be a contributory cause of
developing pancreatic cancer.