Characteristics of cancer patients under age 20 at a population-based registry, Puerto Rico, 1980-1991.

OBJECTIVES

To evaluate and describe the characteristics and incidence of pediatric (< 20 years) cancer in Puerto Rico between 1980-1991.

METHODS

A descriptive study of all new childhood cancer cases among residents of Puerto Rico reported to the Cancer Registry between the years 1980 and 1991 was conducted. The distribution of cases was described by age, gender, place of residence, histology, last date known to be alive, and stage of disease. Incidence rates and standardized incidence rates by age were calculated.

RESULTS

A total of 1,823 new pediatric cases were reported from 1980 through 1991. Over half were males, and 52.2% were aged < 10 years. Most cases resided in urban areas. The most frequent histologic types were leukemia (31.0%), lymphomas and other reticulo-endothelial neoplasms (16.2%), and brain, central nervous system, and intracranial and intraspinal neoplasms (16.0%). The most frequent type of tumor was acute lymphocytic leukemia (22.0%). Although the overall distribution of most neoplasms was similar between genders, a higher proportion of lymphomas was reported among males, and there were significantly more carcinomas among girls. The largest increase in the age-adjusted incidence rate between periods (1980-84 and 1985-89) occurred in the 5-9 age group.

CONCLUSIONS

Overall, these findings are consistent with previous studies in USA. However, there were some differences in the distribution of histologic types when compared with similar studies in other countries, and with the results of the National Cancer Institute's Surveillance, Epidemiology and End Results (SEER) Program. Factors such as differences in diagnostic capabilities among countries must be taken into consideration.