Epidemiology and Trend of Head and Neck Cancers in Iran

INTRODUCTION: Head and neck cancers are the sixth common cancer worldwide. It is necessary to inform the trend of incidence for health planning. This study aimed to investigate the trend of head and neck cancers in Iran.

METHODS: This study was carried out based on national report on cancer registry in Iran. The crude incidence rate was calculated as per 100,000 people, and Age Standardized incidence Rate (ASR) was estimated using direct standardization and the standard population of World Health Organization (W.H.O). Data was analyzed using the Cochran - Armitage test for linear trend and software of WinPepi 2.1.

RESULTS: A total of 25,952 cases of cancers of the head and neck have been registered between 2003 and 2009. The age-standardized incidence rate reached from 4.8 cases per 100,000 in 2003 to 8.5 and 7.4 in 2008 and 2009, respectively, which revealed significantly increasing trends.

CONCLUSIONS: According to increasing trend age-standardized rate of head and neck cancer in Iran, it is recommended to identify risk factors and vulnerable groups in order to reduce the burden of this type of cancers.