Incidence of cancer in children aged 0-14 years in Taiwan, 1996-2010
Journal
Cancer Epidemiology
Journal Volume
39
Journal Issue
1
Pages
21-28
Date Issued
2015
Author(s)
Liu Y.-L.
Lo W.-C.
Yang Y.-W.
Ho W.-L.
Miser J.S.
Lin D.-T.
Lai M.-S.
Abstract
Studies have found lower risk of childhood cancer among Asian children. We aim to characterize the recent incidence and incidence-trend of childhood cancer in Taiwan after the National Health Insurance program was launched in March 1995. Data were extracted from the Taiwan Cancer Registry, a population-based database established in 1979. Cases diagnosed at age 0-14 from 1996 to 2010 were analyzed and categorized according to the International Classification of Childhood Cancer, Third Edition (ICCC-3). In total, 8032 childhood cancer cases were included, with a microscopic verification rate of 93.9%. The overall age-standardized rate (ASR) of incidence adjusted to the 2000 World Standard Population is 125.0 cases/million, with a male-to-female ratio of 1.3. The top five cancer types (ICCC-3 subgroup[s]; ASR per million) are acute lymphoblastic leukemia (Ia, 30.3), acute myeloid leukemia (Ib; 9.4), non-Hodgkin lymphoma (IIb,c,e, 9.0), extracranial germ cell tumor (Xb,c; 8.3), and neuroblastoma (IVa; 7.8). The median age of diagnosis was 6 years for both genders. During the study period, the ASR of childhood cancer has been increasing at a rate of 1.2% per year (95% confidence interval, 0.6-1.7%). In contrast to Western countries, China, Japan, and Taiwan have lower incidence of childhood cancer; however, Taiwan's incidence rates of childhood germ cell tumors and hepatic tumors are higher. In conclusion, this population-based study reveals that the incidence rate of childhood cancer in Taiwan is rising consistently. The high incidence of germ cell tumors warrants further investigation. ? 2014 Elsevier Ltd.
SDGs
Other Subjects
acute granulocytic leukemia; acute lymphoblastic leukemia; adolescent; adrenal cortex carcinoma; Article; astrocytoma; Burkitt lymphoma; cancer diagnosis; cancer incidence; child; childhood cancer; childhood leukemia; female; gender; germ cell tumor; hepatoblastoma; Hodgkin disease; human; liver cell carcinoma; major clinical study; male; medulloblastoma; nasopharynx carcinoma; nephroblastoma; neuroblastoma; neuroectoderm tumor; nonhodgkin lymphoma; osteosarcoma; priority journal; retinoblastoma; soft tissue sarcoma; Taiwan; thyroid carcinoma; incidence; infant; Liver Neoplasms; Neoplasms; Neoplasms, Germ Cell and Embryonal; pathology; preschool child; public health; register; Adolescent; Child; Child, Preschool; Female; Humans; Incidence; Infant; Liver Neoplasms; Male; National Health Programs; Neoplasms; Neoplasms, Germ Cell and Embryonal; Registries; Taiwan
Publisher
Elsevier Ltd
Type
journal article