[Endocrine tumours in Stockholm - increasing general incidence]

Abstract

In recent years, a significantly increased incidence of endocrine tumours has been observed worldwide, not least papillary thyroid cancer - with improved diagnostics and various biological factors being two possible causes of the upsurge. In this material from the Karolinska University Hospital, to date the largest tertiary endocrine surgery unit in the Nordic region, we see a near five-fold increase in the number of diagnosed thyroid cases and a distinct rise in the incidence of tumour cases in the thyroid, parathyroid and adrenal glands. The increase can only partly be explained by an accommodation of patients to tertiary units and should therefore be considered as a true increase in incidence across the Swedish population. Our findings therefore verify the international reports regarding a surge in endocrine tumours and highlight the need for efficient patient care - from diagnosis to treatment.