Cancer in Portugal provides estimates for national cancer incidence in 1996-1998 and predicts numbers of cancer cases in year 2000 based, in whole or in part, on Portuguese incidence and mortality data and population projections for year 2000. The aim of the report is to assess the quality (completeness and validity) of the data of the Portuguese Registries, and to interpret cancer mortality trends in the period 1988-1998, in the light of the most recent epidemiological research and risk factor patterns.