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. 2017 Dec;75(12):2562-2572.
doi: 10.1016/j.joms.2017.05.008. Epub 2017 May 22.

Epidemiological Trends of Head and Neck Cancer in the United States: A SEER Population Study

Moustafa Mourad  1 , Thomas Jetmore  2 , Ameya A Jategaonkar  3 , Sami Moubayed  4 , Erin Moshier  5 , Mark L Urken  6
Affiliations

Epidemiological Trends of Head and Neck Cancer in the United States: A SEER Population Study

Moustafa Mourad et al. J Oral Maxillofac Surg. 2017 Dec.

Abstract

Purpose: This study represents the most recent epidemiologic trends of head and neck cancer (HNC) in the United States. It provides an important discussion on oropharyngeal cancer and cancers related to the human papillomavirus. The objective was to identify trends in HNC (2002 to 2012) within the United States.

Materials and methods: This study is a retrospective analysis of the US National Cancer Institute's Surveillance, Epidemiology, and End Results (SEER) submission. Using the November 2014 submission of the SEER database and SEER-18 data files, data from 2002 to 2012 were analyzed to determine the most recent epidemiologic trends. HNCs of all subtypes were analyzed together. Laryngeal cancers were further analyzed separately. Oropharyngeal cancers of the base of tongue and tonsil were analyzed independently to attempt to trend HPV-related cancers.

Results: From 2002 to 2012, there were 149,301 cases of HNC recorded in the SEER database. The HNC rate decreased by 0.22% per year (P = .0549) and the rate of laryngeal cancer decreased by 1.9% per year (P < .0001). The rate of oropharyngeal (HPV-related) cancer increased by 2.5% per year (P < .0001). HNC rates increased significantly in Kentucky and Connecticut and decreased in California (P < .05). HPV-related cancers increased significantly in all states except Georgia, Hawaii, and Michigan (P < .05). Laryngeal cancer rates decreased in California, Georgia, New Jersey, and New Mexico (P < .05).

Conclusions: The overall incidence of HNC is decreasing in the United States. There is an increasing incidence of HPV-related cancers of the oropharynx. Meaningful differences in cancer incidence and rate of change exist between men and women. Furthermore, younger groups have a greater decrease of overall HNC, with an overall increase in HPV-related cancer in patients older than 50 years.

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Conflict of interest statement

Conflict of Interest Disclosures: None of the authors have a relevant financial relationship(s) with a commercial interest.

Figures

FIGURE 1
FIGURE 1
Joinpoint curves plotted on a logarithmic scale. This scale was used to better display incidence rates for HNC, HPV-related (oropharyngeal) cancer, and larynx cancer because there is a nearly 2 order-of-magnitude difference among disease-specific rates. ASR, age-adjusted incidence rate; HNC, head and neck cancer; HPV, human papillomavirus. Mourad et al. Head and Neck Cancer Trends in United States. J Oral Maxillofac Surg 2017.
FIGURE 2
FIGURE 2
Changes in incidence of HNC from 2002 to 2012 according to gender. ASR, age-adjusted incidence rate; HNC, head and neck cancer. Mourad et al. Head and Neck Cancer Trends in United States. J Oral Maxillofac Surg 2017.
FIGURE 3
FIGURE 3
Changes in incidence of HPV-related (oropharyngeal) head and neck cancer from 2002 to 2012 according to gender. ASR, age-adjusted incidence rate; HPV, human papillomavirus. Mourad et al. Head and Neck Cancer Trends in United States. J Oral Maxillofac Surg 2017.
FIGURE 4
FIGURE 4
Changes in incidence of laryngeal cancer in the United States from 2002 to 2012 according to gender. ASR, age-adjusted incidence rate. Mourad et al. Head and Neck Cancer Trends in United States. J Oral Maxillofac Surg 2017.
FIGURE 5
FIGURE 5
Changes in incidence in HNC from 2002 to 2012 according to age. ASR, age-adjusted incidence rate; HNC, head and neck cancer. Mourad et al. Head and Neck Cancer Trends in United States. J Oral Maxillofac Surg 2017.
FIGURE 6
FIGURE 6
Changes in incidence of HPV-related (oropharyngeal) head and neck cancer from 2002 to 2012 according to age. ASR, age-adjusted incidence rate; HPV, human papillomavirus. Mourad et al. Head and Neck Cancer Trends in United States. J Oral Maxillofac Surg 2017.
FIGURE 7
FIGURE 7
Changes in incidence of laryngeal cancer in the United States from 2002 to 2012 according to age. ASR, age-adjusted incidence rate. Mourad et al. Head and Neck Cancer Trends in United States. J Oral Maxillofac Surg 2017.
FIGURE 8
FIGURE 8
Changes in incidence of HPV-related (oropharyngeal) head and neck cancer from 2002 to 2012 according to geographic location. ASR, age-adjusted incidence rate; HPV, human papillomavirus. Mourad et al. Head and Neck Cancer Trends in United States. J Oral Maxillofac Surg 2017.
FIGURE 9
FIGURE 9
Changes in incidence of laryngeal cancer in the United States from 2002 to 2012 according to geographic location. ASR, age-adjusted incidence rate. Mourad et al. Head and Neck Cancer Trends in United States. J Oral Maxillofac Surg 2017.
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