16.5 Mapping and geographical variation

Oesophageal cancer had a strong geographical pattern, which was similar for men and women. For both sexes combined there was a large area of higher relative risk extending south of a line from west Cork to Dublin with smaller areas of higher risk in Belfast, Carrickfergus, Larne and Ards. Areas in the west and north-west had a lower relative risk (Map 16.1).

The area of higher relative risk for men was slightly smaller and more diffuse, extending north-eastwards from Cork to the north-east of NI Antrim (including Belfast) and including most of the east of RoI with the exception of the area around Wexford (Map 16.2).

For women, the area of higher risk was more pronounced and there were also small areas of higher risk in Larne, Carrickfergus, Ards, along the Ards Peninsula (Map 16.3).