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. 2019 Dec 31;14(12):e0227197.
doi: 10.1371/journal.pone.0227197. eCollection 2019.

Trends in the incidence of thymoma, thymic carcinoma, and thymic neuroendocrine tumor in the United States

Chun-Hsiang Hsu  1 , John K Chan  2 , Chun-Hao Yin  3 , Ching-Chih Lee  3   4 , Chyi-Uei Chern  5 , Cheng-I Liao  5   6
Affiliations

Trends in the incidence of thymoma, thymic carcinoma, and thymic neuroendocrine tumor in the United States

Chun-Hsiang Hsu et al. PLoS One. .

Abstract

This study aimed to identify the trends in the incidence of thymic cancer, i.e., thymoma, thymic carcinoma, and thymic neuroendocrine tumor, in the United States. Data from the United States Cancer Statistics (USCS) database (2001-2015) and those from the Surveillance, Epidemiology, and End Results (SEER) database (SEER 9 [1973-2015], SEER 13 [1992-2015], and SEER 18 [2000-2015]) were used in this study. All incidences were per 100,000 population at risk. The trends in incidence were described as annual percent change (APC) using the Joinpoint regression program. Data from the USCS (2001-2015) database showed an increase in thymic cancer diagnosis with an APC of 4.89% from 2001 to 2006, which is mainly attributed to the significant increase in the incidence of thymoma and thymic carcinoma particularly in women. The incidence of thymic cancer did not increase from 2006 to 2015, which may be attributed to the increase in the diagnosis of thymic carcinoma from 2004 to 2015, with a concomitant decrease in thymoma from 2008 to 2015. Before declining, the age-specific incidence of thymic cancer peaked at ages 70-74 years, with a peak incidence at 1.06 per 100,000 population, and decreased in older age groups. The incidence of thymic cancer was higher in men than in women. Asian/Pacific Islanders had the highest incidence of thymoma, followed by black and then white people. The incidence of thymic carcinoma increased from 2004 to 2015, with a concomitant decrease in thymoma from 2008 to 2015. Asian/Pacific Islanders had the highest incidence of thymoma than other races.

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Conflict of interest statement

The authors have declared that no competing interests exist.

Figures

Fig 1
Fig 1. Proportion of each thymic cancer type in different races.
SEER*Stat Database: NPCR and SEER Incidence—U.S. Cancer Statistics Public Use Database, Nov 2017 submission (2001–2015). Created on 9/15/2018; Surveillance, Epidemiology, and End Results (SEER) Program (www.seer.cancer.gov) SEER*Stat Database: Incidence—SEER 9 Regs Research Data, Nov 2017 Sub (1973–2015) <Katrina/Rita Population Adjustment>—Linked To County Attributes—Total U.S., 1969–2016 Counties, National Cancer Institute, DCCPS, Surveillance Research Program, released April 2018, based on the November 2017 submission.
Fig 2
Fig 2. Number of patients of each thymic cancer type in different genders.
SEER*Stat Database: NPCR and SEER Incidence—U.S. Cancer Statistics Public Use Database, Nov 2017 submission (2001–2015). Created on 9/15/2018; Surveillance, Epidemiology, and End Results (SEER) Program (www.seer.cancer.gov) SEER*Stat Database: Incidence—SEER 9 Regs Research Data, Nov 2017 Sub (1973–2015) <Katrina/Rita Population Adjustment>—Linked To County Attributes—Total U.S., 1969–2016 Counties, National Cancer Institute, DCCPS, Surveillance Research Program, released April 2018, based on the November 2017 submission.
Fig 3
Fig 3. Thymic cancer age standardized rates over time, by data source, histological subtype and sex.
SEER*Stat Database: NPCR and SEER Incidence—U.S. Cancer Statistics Public Use Database, Nov 2017 submission (2001–2015). Created on 9/15/2018; Surveillance, Epidemiology, and End Results (SEER) Program (www.seer.cancer.gov) SEER*Stat Database: Incidence—SEER 9 Regs Research Data, Nov 2017 Sub (1973–2015) <Katrina/Rita Population Adjustment>—Linked To County Attributes—Total U.S., 1969–2016 Counties, National Cancer Institute, DCCPS, Surveillance Research Program, released April 2018, based on the November 2017 submission.
Fig 4
Fig 4. Age-specific incidence of thymic cancer by sex.
SEER*Stat Database: NPCR and SEER Incidence—U.S. Cancer Statistics Public Use Database, Nov 2017 submission (2001–2015). Created on 9/15/2018; Surveillance, Epidemiology, and End Results (SEER) Program (www.seer.cancer.gov) SEER*Stat Database: Incidence—SEER 9 Regs Research Data, Nov 2017 Sub (1973–2015) <Katrina/Rita Population Adjustment>—Linked To County Attributes—Total U.S., 1969–2016 Counties, National Cancer Institute, DCCPS, Surveillance Research Program, released April 2018, based on the November 2017 submission.
Fig 5
Fig 5. Age-specific incidence of thymic cancer by histologic type.
SEER*Stat Database: NPCR and SEER Incidence—U.S. Cancer Statistics Public Use Database, Nov 2017 submission (2001–2015). Created on 9/15/2018; Surveillance, Epidemiology, and End Results (SEER) Program (www.seer.cancer.gov) SEER*Stat Database: Incidence—SEER 9 Regs Research Data, Nov 2017 Sub (1973–2015) <Katrina/Rita Population Adjustment>—Linked To County Attributes—Total U.S., 1969–2016 Counties, National Cancer Institute, DCCPS, Surveillance Research Program, released April 2018, based on the November 2017 submission.
Fig 6
Fig 6. Case proportion of thymic cancer stratified by sex and histologic type.
SEER*Stat Database: NPCR and SEER Incidence—U.S. Cancer Statistics Public Use Database, Nov 2017 submission (2001–2015). Created on 9/15/2018; Surveillance, Epidemiology, and End Results (SEER) Program (www.seer.cancer.gov) SEER*Stat Database: Incidence—SEER 9 Regs Research Data, Nov 2017 Sub (1973–2015) <Katrina/Rita Population Adjustment>—Linked To County Attributes—Total U.S., 1969–2016 Counties, National Cancer Institute, DCCPS, Surveillance Research Program, released April 2018, based on the November 2017 submission.
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