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Global patterns and trends in the incidence of non-Hodgkin lymphoma

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Abstract

Purpose

Despite an increasing understanding of the pathology and genetics of non-Hodgkin lymphoma (NHL), global reports on variations in the incidence of NHL remain limited in their number and scope.

Methods

To provide a situation analysis, national incidence estimates for NHL in 185 countries for the year 2018 were obtained from the GLOBOCAN database. We also used recorded incidence data from Cancer Incidence in Five Continents (CI5) plus for years of diagnosis 1980–2012 to examine temporal trends.

Results

NHL ranked as the 5th to 9th most common cancer in most countries worldwide, with almost 510,000 new cases estimated in 2018. Observed incidence rates of NHL 2008–2012 varied markedly by world region: among males, rates were highest among Israel Jews [age-standardized (world) rate of 17.6 per 100,000), Australia (15.3), US whites (14.5), Canada (13.7), and Portugal (13.3)]. Where data were available, most populations exhibited stable or slightly increasing incidence rates; in North America, parts of Europe, and Oceania the rising incidence rates were generally observed until the 1990s, with a stabilization seen thereafter.

Conclusion

Marked variations in NHL incidence rates remain in populations in each world region. Special attention should be given to further etiological research on the role of endemic infections and environmental exposures, particularly in Africa, Asia, and Latin America. To permit internationally comparable statistics, an equal focus on addressing the quality of hematological information in population-based registries is also warranted.

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Fig. 1

(Source: GLOBOCAN, 2018)

Fig. 2

(Source: Cancer Incidence in Five Continents Volume XI)

Fig. 3

[Source: Cancer Incidence in Five Continents plus (1980–2012)]

Fig. 4

(Sources: GLOBOCAN 2018, WHO Global Health Observatory, United Nations Development Programme)

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Acknowledgments

The work reported here was undertaken by Dr. Miranda-Filho during the tenure of an IARC Postdoctoral Fellowship, partially supported by the European Commission FP7 Marie Curie—Actions—People—co-funding regional, national, and international programmes (COFUND). We would like to thank the Directors and staff of the population-based cancer registries worldwide who compiled and submitted their data for the CI5 and GLOBOCAN projects used in this paper.

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Authors and Affiliations

  1. Section of Cancer Surveillance, International Agency for Research on Cancer, 150 Cours Albert Thomas, 69372, Lyon CEDEX 08, France

    Adalberto Miranda-Filho, Marion Piñeros, Ariana Znaor, Eva Steliarova-Foucher & Freddie Bray

  2. Epidemiology Unit and Girona Cancer Registry (UERCG), Oncology Coordination Plan, Department of Health, Autonomous Government of Catalonia, Catalan Institute of Oncology (ICO), Girona Biomedical Research Institute (IDIBGI), University of Girona, Girona, Spain

    Rafael Marcos-Gragera

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Miranda-Filho, A., Piñeros, M., Znaor, A. et al. Global patterns and trends in the incidence of non-Hodgkin lymphoma. Cancer Causes Control 30, 489–499 (2019). https://doi.org/10.1007/s10552-019-01155-5

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