Epidemiology Characteristics and Trends of Incidence and Morphology of Stomach Cancer in Iran

Background: Stomach cancer is the fourth most common cancer and the second leading cause of cancerrelateddeath through the world. It is predicted that the number of new cancer cases will be more than 15million cases by 2020. Regarding the lack of studies on this topic in the country, we have thoroughly examinedthe patho-epidemiology of stomach cancer in Iran. Materials and
Methods: In this cross- sectional study datawere collected retrospectively reviewing all new stomach cancer patients in Cancer Registry Center report ofhealth deputy for Iran during a 6-year period (2003-2008). The study also examined the morphology of commonstomach cancers. Trends in incidence and morphology underwent joinpoint regression analysis.
Results: Duringthe six-year period, a total of 35,171 cases of stomach cancer were registered. Average age standardized rate forfemales and males were equal to 7.1 and 15.1 per 100,000 persons, respectively. Most common histological typewas adenocarcinoma, NOS with 21,980 cases (62.50%). The annual percentage change (APC) in age-standardizedincidence rate (per 100,000) was increase in both females and males at 11.1 (CI: 4.3 to 18.3) and 9.2 (CI: 5.2 to13.4), respectively.
Conclusions: According to our results, the incidence of gastric cancer is increasing in Iran,so further epidemiological studies into the etiology and early detection are essential.