Trends in the Age-Adjusted Incidence of Head and Neck Cancer in South Korea Over the Past 20 Years.

OBJECTIVES

This study aimed to calculate the age-adjusted incidence rate of head and neck cancer (HNC) in South Korea from 1999 to 2020 and to analyze HNC incidence trends while excluding the effects of population aging.

METHODS

Data were obtained from the Cancer Registration Statistics Program. All 12 types of HNCs were analyzed. Crude incidence rates and the number of new cases from 1999 to 2020 were presented by sex and age group. Age-adjusted incidence rates were calculated using the World Standard Population (World Health Organization [WHO] 2000-2025), and trends were assessed.

RESULTS

Although the crude incidence rates of all HNCs increased steadily from 1999 to 2020, the absolute values remained low in most cases, at less than 2 per 100,000. The male-to-female ratio was 1 or higher for all HNCs except thyroid cancer, and 10 or higher for laryngeal and hypopharyngeal cancers. Age-adjusted incidence trends showed a gradual increase for tongue cancer, tonsil cancer, major salivary gland cancer, and thyroid cancer, a decrease for laryngeal cancer, and no significant change for the remaining HNCs.

CONCLUSION

Excluding the effects of population aging, tongue cancer, tonsil cancer, major salivary gland cancer, and thyroid cancer have increased in South Korea over the past 20 years, while laryngeal cancer has decreased.