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Incidence of malignant mesothelioma in Germany 2009–2013

Cancer Causes & Control volume 28, pages 97–105 (2017)Cite this article

Abstract

Purpose

The malignant mesothelioma is a rare malignancy and mainly caused by occupational exposure to asbestos. German cancer registries are providing a national database to investigate temporal and regional patterns of mesothelioma incidence. These may be of interest for healthcare planning and for surveillance programs aiming at the formerly exposed workforce.

Methods

We analyzed population-based incidence data of malignant mesothelioma by site, type, sex, age, as well as district and state of patient’s residence. Age-standardized incidence rates (AIRs40+) were calculated according to the European standard population truncated to the age of 40 years and older. We present rates at national, state, and district level and trends of incidence of northern states of Germany.

Results

In total, 7,547 malignant mesotheliomas were reported to German cancer registries diagnosed between 2009 and 2013—90% located to the pleura. On average, 1,198 men and 312 women were affected each year. We estimated AIR40+ of 4.77 in 100,000 German men and 0.98 in 100,000 German women. Regional clusters were predominantly located to the seaports of West Germany. The highest regional AIR40+ was 20 per 100,000 men. Corresponding rates in northeast Germany were between 2 and 4 per 100,000 men.

Conclusion

Regional clusters of high incidence indicate districts with former shipyards and steel industry, but predominantly in the western part of Germany. The West-to-East difference corresponds to patterns of mortality. Twenty years after banning asbestos in Germany, Bremen and Hamburg are presenting the highest mesothelioma incidence but show steadily decreasing trends.

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Authors and Affiliations

  1. Institute for Prevention and Occupational Medicine of the German Social Accident Insurance, Institute of the Ruhr-Universität Bochum (IPA), Buerkle-de-la-Camp-Platz 1, 44789, Bochum, Germany

    Martin Lehnert, Evelyn Heinze, Thorsten Wiethege, Georg Johnen, Thomas Brüning & Dirk Taeger

  2. German Centre for Cancer Registry Data (ZfKD) at Robert Koch-Institute, Berlin, Germany

    Klaus Kraywinkel & Julia Fiebig

Authors
  1. Martin Lehnert
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  2. Klaus Kraywinkel
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  3. Evelyn Heinze
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  4. Thorsten Wiethege
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Correspondence to Martin Lehnert.

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Lehnert, M., Kraywinkel, K., Heinze, E. et al. Incidence of malignant mesothelioma in Germany 2009–2013. Cancer Causes Control 28, 97–105 (2017). https://doi.org/10.1007/s10552-016-0838-y

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Keywords

  • Asbestos
  • Mesothelioma
  • Incidence
  • Germany