The incidence and histological patterns of oesophageal cancer in Sri Lanka from 2001 to 2010: Analysis of national cancer registry data

Objectives An increase in global incidence of oesophageal cancer has been reported in the last few decades. We conducted this study to examine trends in oesophageal cancer in Sri Lanka. Methods A retrospective cohort evaluation of newly diagnosed patients with oesophageal cancer during 2001-2010 was performed using population-based data published by the Sri Lanka National Cancer Control Programme. Results A total of 10,626 (male: female = 1:1.06, mean age: 62 years) oesophageal cancers were analysed. Of those, 1,553(14.6%) were classified as non-specific carcinoma. Of the remaining, 88% (n = 7,986) were squamous cell carcinoma (SCC) and 10.5% (n = 956) were adenocarcinoma. The WHO age-standardised incidence was observed to have increased from 5.78 per 100,000 in 2001 (95% CI = 5.41-6.16) to 6.23 per 100,000 in 2010 (95%CI = 5.86-6.60). WHO age-standardised incidence of SCC has increased from 4.09 to 4.97 per 100,000 from 2001 to 2010 (p < .05 for trend, estimated annual percentage change (EAPC) = 3.6, 95% CI = 0.9-6.3) while incidence of adenocarcinoma showed a greater proportional increase from 0.33 to 0.7 per 100,000 from 2001 to 2010 (p < .05 for trend, EAPC = 7.1, 95% CI = 2.1-12.4). Conclusions A statistically significant increase in the incidence of oesophageal cancer in Sri Lanka was noted, with greater proportional increases of adenocarcinomas and cancers in men. Further studies including tumour stage and mortality may help better understand changing patterns of disease burden.