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. 2017 Nov 30:41:e117.
doi: 10.26633/RPSP.2017.117. eCollection 2017.

Incidence of penile cancer worldwide: systematic review and meta-analysis

Carlos Eduardo Montes Cardona  1 , Herney Andrés García-Perdomo  1
Affiliations

Incidence of penile cancer worldwide: systematic review and meta-analysis

Carlos Eduardo Montes Cardona et al. Rev Panam Salud Publica. .

Abstract
in English, Spanish, Portuguese

Objective: To determine the global incidence of penile cancer.

Methods: A systematic review and meta-analysis of observational studies was performed, with no limits on their language of publication. Analyses were performed using Stata 13 statistical software. A random-effects model was used, according to the heterogeneity found in the studies. The main outcome was expressed in terms of age-standardized incidence.

Results: A total of 23 studies were eligible, with 71 156 penile cancer patients in 86 countries. According to the review conducted, the estimated age-standardized incidence of penile cancer worldwide is 0.84 cases per 100 000 person-years (95% confidence interval: 0.79-0.89). Romania reported the highest incidence, 7.26 per 100 000 person-years, between 1983 and 1987; however, some countries in Latin America and Africa reported an incidence of between 2.0 and 5.7 per 100 000.

Conclusions: Penile cancer is considered a rare malignancy due to its already-known, particularly low incidence rate. The estimated age-standardized incidence rate by the world standard population today is 0.84 cases per 100 000 person-years. There were no significant differences in the incidence rate of penile cancer with respect to the distribution by continent or the trend over time.

Objetivo: Determinar la incidencia mundial del cáncer de pene.

Métodos: Se realizó una revisión sistemática y un metanálisis de estudios de observación, sin ninguna limitación por el idioma de publicación. Para los análisis se usó el software estadístico Stata 13. Se usó un modelo de efectos aleatorios, conforme a la heterogeneidad encontrada en los estudios. El resultado principal se expresó en términos de incidencia ajustada por la edad.

Resultados: En total, 23 estudios (con una población total de 71 156 pacientes con cáncer de pene en 86 países) cumplieron con los criterios establecidos. Según esta revisión, se estima que la incidencia ajustada por la edad del cáncer de pene a escala mundial es de 0,84 casos por 100 000 años-persona (intervalo de confianza de 95%: 0,79–0,89). Rumania notificó la incidencia más alta, de 7,26 por 100 000 años-persona, entre 1983 y 1987; sin embargo, algunos países de América Latina y África notificaron una incidencia de entre 2,0 y 5,7 por 100 000.

Conclusiones: Se considera que el cáncer de pene es una neoplasia maligna rara debido a que la tasa de incidencia conocida es particularmente baja. Hoy en día, la tasa de incidencia ajustada por la edad estimada para la población estándar mundial es de 0,84 casos por 100 000 años-persona. No se observó ninguna diferencia significativa de la tasa de incidencia del cáncer de pene con respecto a la distribución por continente o la tendencia con el transcurso del tiempo.

Objetivo: Determinar a incidência mundial de câncer de pênis.

Métodos: Um estudo de revisão sistemática e meta-análise de estudos observacionais foi conduzido, sem restrição do idioma da publicação. As análises foram realizadas com o uso do software de estatística Stata 13. Um modelo de efeitos aleatórios foi usado, segundo a heterogeneidade encontrada nos estudos. O desfecho principal foi expresso como taxa de incidência padronizada por idade.

Resultados: Vinte e três estudos satisfizeram os critérios, englobando 71.156 pacientes com câncer de pênis em 86 países. De acordo com a revisão conduzida, a taxa de incidência padronizada por idade estimada para o câncer de pênis em todo o mundo é de 0,84 caso por 100.000 pessoas-ano (intervalo de confiança de 95% 0,79–0,89). A Romênia registrou a taxa de incidência mais elevada, 7,26 por 100.000 pessoas-ano, entre 1983 e 1987. Porém, alguns países da América Latina e África registraram taxas de incidência entre 2,0 e 5,7 por 100.000 pessoas-ano.

Conclusões: O câncer de pênis é uma neoplasia maligna rara devido à sua conhecida taxa de incidência especialmente baixa. A atual taxa de incidência padronizada por idade estimada para a população mundial padrão é de 0,84 caso por 100.000 pessoas-ano. Não foi encontrada diferença significativa na taxa de incidência do câncer de pênis quanto à distribuição por continente ou tendência temporal.

Keywords: Penile neoplasms; incidence; observational studies.

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Conflict of interest statement

Conflicts of interest. None.

Figures

FIGURE 1.
FIGURE 1.. Flow chart of process for selecting studies used in determining the incidence of penile cancer in the global population
FIGURE 2.
FIGURE 2.. Countries with the highest incidence of penile cancer (age-standardized rate, cases per 100 000 person-years)
FIGURE 3.
FIGURE 3.. Incidence of penile cancer by geographic area, in terms of number of cases per 100 000 person-years, with 95% confidence interval
FIGURE 4.
FIGURE 4.. Number of cases of penile cancer reported for the countries with the highest incidence, for the indicated time periods
See this image and copyright information in PMC

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