Worldwide trends in mortality from biliary tract malignancies

Area of Science:

• Oncology
• Epidemiology
• Public Health

Background:

• Intrahepatic cholangiocarcinoma (ICC) is a biliary tract cancer with unknown pathogenesis.
• Global prevalence varies, but recent data suggest increasing ICC mortality in low-endemic regions.
• Analyzing mortality trends may reveal etiological factors for ICC.

Purpose of the Study:

• To analyze global time trends in mortality from biliary tract malignancies.
• To investigate gender and site-specific mortality patterns for ICC and extrahepatic biliary tract cancers.

Main Methods:

• Utilized World Health Organization (WHO) database for annual age-standardized mortality rates by country.
• Analyzed time trends in mortality data for biliary tract malignancies.

Main Results:

• A significant global increase in intrahepatic cholangiocarcinoma mortality was observed across all regions.
• Estimated Annual Percentage Change (EAPC) for ICC mortality: males 6.9%, females 5.1%.
• Mortality rates for extrahepatic biliary tract malignancies showed a decreasing trend (males EAPC -0.3%, females EAPC -1.3%).

Conclusions:

• A marked global increase in mortality from intrahepatic biliary tract malignancies has been identified.
• Mortality trends for extrahepatic biliary tract malignancies show a contrasting decrease.