Incidence of nasopharyngeal carcinoma in Belgrade during the period 1991-2005

Abstract

Background/Aim. Nasopharyngeal carcinoma (NPC) is a relatively rare malignant disease, of which 80 000 individuals become ill around the world annually, which amounts to 0.7% of all carcinomas. The aim of this descriptive study was to analyze NPC incidence in Belgrade (the capital city of Serbia, with about 1.6 milion inhabitants) during the period 1991-2005. Methods. In data analysis, crude rates age and sex specific rates, and standardized incidence rates were used. Standardization was performed by a direct method, using world population as the standard. Results. In Belgrade, during the observed 15-year-period, the number of new NPC patients totaled 118, of which 86 (72.9%) were male and 32 (27.1%) were female. The average standardized incidence rate for men was 0.52 per 100 000 and for women 0.16 per 100 000. In both sexes the incidence was very low before 40 years of age. In men, the greatest incidence rate of NPC was in the 50-59 years age group, and in women in those 60 and more years old. Furthermore, undifferentiated carcinoma of nasopharyngeal type was 3.6 times more often in comparison to squamous cell carcinoma. Conclusion. Belgrade belongs to a region with a low incidence rate of NPC. Further investigations are needed to explain higher frequency of undifferentiated carcinoma of nasopharyngeal type than squamous cell carcinoma.