The Epidemiology of Neuroendocrine Tumors in Taiwan: A Nation-Wide Cancer Registry-Based Study

Abstract

BackgroundThe epidemiology of neuroendocrine tumors (NETs) is not well illustrated, particularly for Asian countries.MethodsThe age-standardized incidence rates and observed survival rates of NETs diagnosed in Taiwan from January 1, 1996 to December 31, 2008 were calculated using data of the Taiwan Cancer Registry (TCR) and compared to those of the Norwegian Registry of Cancer (NRC) and the US Surveillance, Epidemiology, and End Results (SEER) program.ResultsDuring the study period, a total of 2,187 NET cases were diagnosed in Taiwan, with 62% males and a mean age of 57.9 years-old. The age-standardized incidence rate of NETs increased from 0.30 per 100,000 in 1996 to 1.51 per 100,000 in 2008. The most common primary sites were rectum (25.4%), lung and bronchus (20%) and stomach (7.4%). The 5-year observed survival was 50.4% for all NETs (43.4% for men and 61.8% for women, P<0.0001). The best 5-year observed survivals for NETs by sites were rectum (80.9%), appendix (75.7%), and breast (64.8%).ConclusionsCompared to the data of Norway and the US, the age-standardized incidence rate of NETs in Taiwan is lower and the major primary sites are different, whereas the long-term outcome is similar. More studies on the pathogenesis of NETs are warranted to devise preventive strategies and improve treatment outcomes for NETs.

Epidemiologia nowotworów neuroendokrynnych układu pokarmowego w Krakowie i powiecie krakowskim w latach 2007-2011.

“…The standardised incidence rates of GEPNEN in Krakow and Krakow district in subsequent years (2007-2011) ranged from 1.5 to 2.7 per 100,000 inhabitants per year (an average of 2.1/100,000 inhabitants/year) and were lower than in the USA (3.65 in 2003-2007) [16] [17]). A regional register from Girona in Spain (1994Spain ( -2004 reported an even lower GEPNEN incidence of 1.1 [5].…”

“…In smaller European registers coefficients were lower: in the province of Girona in Spain they ranged from 0.05 for gastric NEN to 0.5 for pancreatic NEN [5], and in Tuscany in Italy they were in the range 0.1-0.3 [10]. In Taiwan the primary location-specific incidence rates ranged from 0.06 for small intestinal NEN to 0.38 for rectal NEN [17]. The SEER analysis revealed higher incidence rates for small intestinal (1.08) and rectal NEN (0.97) [16].…”

“…Despite problems with registering patients, published data from large (often covering several decades) national registries show increasing incidence in GEP-NEN and NEN regardless of primary tumour location in the US (except for appendiceal NEN) [8], Europe [7,9,19], and other geographical regions [17]. It may be partially explained by the improvement in patient registration, increased awareness of NEN among medical personnel, or progress in NEN diagnostics [4,17].…”

“…It may be partially explained by the improvement in patient registration, increased awareness of NEN among medical personnel, or progress in NEN diagnostics [4,17]. The number of accidentally detected NEN cases rose with increasing use of various imaging techniques for other indications [20].…”

Epidemiological trends of pancreatic and gastrointestinal neuroendocrine tumors in Japan: a nationwide survey analysis

“…In Western nations, 30-60 % of GEP-NETs are derived from midgut [2,13,14] in contrast to the Japanese data. The epidemiology of GEP-NETs was recently reported in Asian nations including Taiwan [15], China [16], and Korea [17,18]. Interestingly, the prevalence of patients with midgut NETs in these nations is low like Japan, indicating ethnic differences between Asians and Western populations.…”