The Trend in Age-Adjusted Incidence of Head and Neck Cancer in South Korea over the Past 20 Years.

Abstract

Objectives: We aimed to calculate the age-adjusted incidence rate of head and neck cancer (HNC) in South Korea from 1999 to 2020 and investigate the incidence trend of HNC excluding the effect of population aging.

Methods: Data were obtained from the Cancer Registration Statistics Program. All 12 types of HNCs were analyzed. For each HNC type, the crude incidence rate and number of new cases during 1999-2020 are presented according to sex and age group. Age-adjusted incidence rates were calculated based on the World Standard Population (WHO 2000-2025), and its trends were also measured.

Results: Although the crude incidence rates of all HNCs have been steadily increasing from 1999 to 2020, the absolute values were very low in most cases, less than 2/100,000. The male-to-female ratio was 1 or higher for all HNCs except thyroid cancer, and 10 or higher for laryngeal cancer and hypopharyngeal cancer. The trend of age-adjusted incidence was a gradual increase for tongue cancer, tonsil cancer, major salivary gland cancer, and thyroid cancer, a decrease for laryngeal cancer, and no significant change for the remaining HNCs.

Conclusion: Excluding the population aging effect, tongue cancer, tonsil cancer, major salivary gland cancer, and thyroid cancer among HNCs have been increasing in South Korea over the past 20 years, while laryngeal cancer has been decreasing.