Leukemias and multiple myeloma

The present paper analyses temporal trends for leukemias in adulthood and for multiple myeloma in the database of the Italian Network of Cancer Registries (pool AIRT) during 1986-1997. As regards leukemias, in subjects aged 15+, (10,946 analysed cases) the incidence rates trend was rather stable during the period 1986 to 1997, whereas mortality (8,265 deaths included) showed a decrease of about 1-2%/year, statistically significant among males. Multiple myeloma, 6,535 cases and 4,310 deaths, showed a sharp increase in incidence rates that grew in the period at apace of about 3 %/year; mortality was stable.