Gender Differences in Sinonasal Cancer Incidence: Data from the Italian Registry

Area of Science:

• Oncology
• Occupational Health
• Epidemiology

Background:

• Sinonasal cancers (SNCs), though rare, exhibit a substantial occupational attributable fraction.
• Understanding gender-specific patterns is crucial for effective public health strategies.

Purpose of the Study:

• To analyze gender-based differences in the incidence, morphology, and exposure patterns of sinonasal cancers (SNCs) in Italy.
• To highlight the role of occupational exposures in SNC development.

Main Methods:

• Descriptive analyses of incidence and exposure patterns were conducted using a gender-based approach.
• Data were sourced from the Italian National Sinonasal Cancer Registry (ReNaTuNS).

Main Results:

• The study analyzed 2851 SNC patients, with 73% diagnosed in men and 27% in women.
• Intestinal-type adenocarcinoma was most frequent in men (33%), while squamous cell carcinoma predominated in women (49%).
• Occupational exposures to wood and leather dusts were common (41% men, 33% women), with a notable "unlikely exposure" category in women (57%).

Conclusions:

• The ReNaTuNS registry is vital for identifying and compensating occupational SNC cases in Italy.
• The registry facilitates the analysis of gender disparities in SNC, crucial given the disease's rarity in women.