Pediatric Head and Neck Malignancies: Incidence and Trends 1973 to 2010

Abstract

Objectives: Determine the current epidemiology of head and neck cancer in the US pediatric population. Methods: The SEER (Surveillance, Epidemiology, and End Results) database was accessed to gather epidemiologic data regarding pediatric head and neck cancer between 1973 and 2010. Specific trends related to demographic background, histologic diagnosis, tumor location and incidence, as well as general trends of all pediatric cancers were extracted. Results: The total burden and incidence rates of pediatric cancer as well as head and neck cancer specifically continue to rise. Cancer was diagnosed in children under15 years of age at a rate of 12.5 (95% confidence interval [CI] 11.9-13.1) per 100,000 from 1973 to 1975 and 17.3 (95% CI 16.7-17.9) per 100,000 in 2007 to 2009, representing an increase of 38%. Head and neck cancers in the same age group increased from 1.1 (95% CI 1.0-1.3) per 100,000 in 1973 to 1975 to 2.0 (95% CI 1.8-2.2) per 100,000 in 2007 to 2009, a total increase of 81%. Despite this increased incidence, the proportion of head and neck cancers to all cancers in the pediatric population has remained stable. Conclusions: Similar to pediatric cancer in general, the public health burden of pediatric head and neck cancer continues to rise. Although the proportion of head and neck malignancy to pediatric cancer in general is stable, the increasing incidence raises concern for potential underlying associations that may be amenable to intervention.