Subtype‐specific epidemiology of lymphoid malignancies in Taiwan compared to Japan and the United States, 2002‐2012

Abstract

Background

There are many unrevealed parts regarding lymphoma etiology. Previous studies suggested differences in lymphoma epidemiology among countries existed; however, some were one‐center studies that were not enough to represent the whole population.

Objective

To provide epidemiological information on lymphoma within Taiwanese and to compare the data with that in Japan and the United States.

Methods

We used Taiwan Cancer Registry Database as our data source. Patients with lymphoma were identified through the ICD‐O‐3 codes and those with non‐Hodgkin lymphoma (NHL) were categorized into three major types and 13 subtypes according to 2008 WHO classification. Incidence of lymphoma was adjusted according to the 2000 world standard population.

Results

During 2002‐2012, 21 929 cases were diagnosed with four major types of lymphoma in Taiwan. Aggressive B‐cell lymphoma (52.21%, N = 11 450) was the most common type of NHL. Median age at diagnosis of aggressive B‐cell lymphoma was the eldest (63.0‐65.0 years). Male excess in T/NK‐cell lymphoma was the most obvious (sex ratio: 1.39‐2.07). The incidence of NK/T‐cell lymphoma, nasal type, was higher (male: 0.16‐0.34 per 100 000, female: 0.06‐0.16 per 100 000) in Taiwan than that in the United States and Japan.

Conclusion

This is the first population‐based study in Taiwan to investigate subtype‐specific epidemiology of lymphoma. The incidence rates of lymphoma in Taiwan are mostly lower than those in the United States and higher or comparable to those in Japan except for NK/T‐cell lymphoma, nasal type, whose age‐adjusted incidence in Taiwan is the highest.