Pediatric head and neck malignancies: incidence and trends, 1973-2010.

OBJECTIVE

Determine the current epidemiology of head and neck (H&N) cancer in the US pediatric population.

STUDY DESIGN

Analysis of national tumor registries comparing childhood H&N cancer trends to overall childhood cancer trends.

SUBJECTS AND METHODS

The SEER (Surveillance, Epidemiology, and End Results) database was accessed to gather epidemiologic data regarding pediatric H&N cancer between 1973 and 2010. Specific trends related to demographic background, histologic diagnosis, tumor location, and incidence, as well as general trends of all pediatric cancers, were extracted.

RESULTS

The total burden and incidence rates of pediatric cancer as well as H&N cancer continue to rise. Cancer was diagnosed in children <15 years old at a rate of 12.5 cases (95% confidence interval [CI], 11.9-13.1) per 100,000 from 1973 to 1975 and 17.3 (95% CI, 16.7-17.9) from 2007 to 2009, an increase of 38%. H&N cancers in the same age group increased from 1.1 (95% CI, 0.9-1.2) in 1973-1975 to 1.6 (95% CI, 1.4-1.8) in 2007-2009, an increase of 45%. Despite this apparent increased incidence, the proportion of H&N cancers to all cancers in the pediatric population has remained stable.

CONCLUSION

As with all pediatric cancer, the public health burden of pediatric H&N cancer continues to rise. The proportion of H&N malignancy to all pediatric cancer is stable. With the incidence increasing, however, work to identify treatment strategies remains crucial.