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This study presents the findings of the first population-based tumor registry in the Eastern region (ER). Data on all cancer sites, in 1987 and 1988, were captured from all health facilities in the ER. A regional population census was obtained from regional health authorities. Cancer deaths were obtained from death registries. Age-specific rate, crude incidence rate (CIR), age-standardized incidence rate (ASR) and relative age-standardized incidence rate (%ASR) were compared with available population-based data from 137 tumor registries. 1559 primary cancer cases were captured. The CIR and ASR/100,000/year for cancer among Saudi males were respectively 59.8 and 125.7. The corresponding rates among Saudi females were 43.6 and 95.5. These rates rank very low on the international scale. Cancer sites with the highest %ASR among Saudi males were lung, lymphomas, leukemias, urinary bladder and tumors of uncertain primary. For Saudi females, these sites were breast, leukemias, tumors of brain and nervous system, thyroid and tumors of uncertain primary. Lung cancer was the leading cause of death from cancer among Saudi males. The first regional population-based cancer registry in Saudi Arabia was established in 1987. The overall cancer ASR in the ER is low. The leading cancer sites with the highest %ASR are lung in Saudi males and breast in Saudi females. Ann Saudi Med 1997;17(1): 53-65. TM Al Tamimi, EM Ibrahim, AM Ibrahim, AA Al-Bar, SA Assuhaimi, GS Gabriel, AM Mishriky, HY Al-Idrissi, MO Al-Sohaibani, MH Al-Sibai, Cancer in the Eastern Region of Saudi Arabia: a Population-Based Study (1987-1988). 1997; 17(1): 53-65 Cancer is becoming a leading cause of death in many countries of the world. The perceived impression about cancer being predominantly a disease of developed and affluent societies is a common misconception. In 1984, over half of the annual world total of 5.8 million new cancer cases were reported from developing countries. 1 The incidence of cancer in these countries is likely to show a progressive increase due to several factors. First, the improvement in health care and sanitation and the control of infectious diseases has resulted in an increase in life expectancy. Second, the diagnostic techniques and methods of early detection have been markedly improved. Finally, the urbanization and changes in lifestyle recently witnessed in many developing countries might be emerging as risk factors for cancer in these societies.The nature and quality of health information are significantly different in developing countries, compared with those in more developed geographical regions. This is notably true for cancer statistics. Parkin has pointed out several obstacles that cancer statistics procedures in developing countries commonly face.2 These are mainly the lack of health services infrastructure; the restricted resources that would limit a sizable proportion of population having access to health facilities, thereby influencing the validity of data; the problem of extensive population migration; the lack o...

This is the first population-based data in Saudi Arabia on the incidence of leukemias in the Eastern Region, as conducted by its regional tumor registry. Data on cancer were captured from all health facilities in the region in 1987-1988. Population census was derived from a survey. Data on cancer deaths were obtained from all death registries. Crude, age-specific, age-standardized, and relative age-standardized incidence rates were used as indicators for the incidence of leukemia. There were 124 cases of leukemias registered. The yearly average crude incidence rate was 5.2 and 3.6 per 100,000 for Saudi males and females, respectively. The age-standardized incidence rate was 7.3 and 6.1 per 100,000 per year in Saudi males and females respectively. The relative agestandardized incidence rate of leukemias in Saudi males and females ranked, respectively, third and second highest on the international scale. Death from leukemia among Saudis was responsible for 8.9% of the total deaths from cancer. Statistical indicators point to a high incidence rate of leukemias in the Eastern Region of Saudi Arabia among Saudis. Leukemia was the third leading cause of death from cancer. The relative age-standardized rate of leukemias among Saudis of either gender rank very high on the international scale. Ann Saudi Med 1996;16(5):521-526:AA Al-Bar, EM Ibrahim, TM Al-Tamimi, SA Assuhaimi, AWM Ibrahim, GS Gabriel, AM Mishriky, Leukemia in the Eastern Region of Saudi Arabia: A Population-Based Study (1987-1988). 1996; 16(5): 521-526 Worldwide, leukemias demonstrate low to moderate incidence rates, in relation to other malignancies. 1 However, among 15,115 cancer patients seen at King Faisal Specialist Hospital and Research Centre (KFSH&RC), hematologic malignancies were common sites, with leukemia alone ranking as the second most frequent neoplasm, reaching a relative frequency rate of 8.1% of all captured cases. Moreover, it was the most frequent malignancy among children younger than 15 years of age.2 Acute leukemias were among the most common neoplasms reported from the State of Kuwait national cancer registry and from the Baghdad tumor registry.3,4 The international figures for leukemias vary over a wide range. For males, the yearly age-standardized incidence rates (ASR) of 100,000 in the period from 1978 to 1982 varied from less than 3.0 to more than 11.0. The corresponding female variation ranged from less than 2.0 to more than 9.0.