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US cancer incidence and mortality in the first year of life
Insights
Cancer incidence in U.S. infants under one year was significantly higher than mortality rates. Neuroblastoma was the most common childhood cancer, with incidence varying widely by tumor type.
Area of Science:
- Pediatric Oncology
- Cancer Epidemiology
Background:
- Cancer is a significant health concern in infants and newborns.
- Understanding incidence and mortality rates is crucial for public health initiatives.
Purpose of the Study:
- To determine the incidence of malignant neoplasms in U.S. infants.
- To compare cancer incidence with mortality rates in different infant age groups.
Main Methods:
- Utilized data from the Third National Cancer Survey (1969-1971).
- Analyzed cancer incidence in infants younger than 1 year and newborns younger than 29 days.
- Compared incidence data with mortality data from US death certificates (1960-1969).
Main Results:
- Infant cancer incidence was 183.4 per million live births (under 1 year) and 36.5 per million (under 29 days).
- Neuroblastoma was the most frequent cancer diagnosis in both age groups.
- Overall infant cancer incidence was 3.5 times higher than mortality.
Conclusions:
- Cancer incidence in infants significantly exceeds mortality, highlighting survival improvements.
- Incidence-to-mortality ratios varied by cancer type, indicating differential treatment efficacy.
- Neuroblastoma remains a primary concern in infant oncology.
Abstract:
Based on the Third National Cancer Survey (1969 to 1971), the incidence of malignant neoplasms in the United States was 183.4 per million live births per year in infants younger than 1 year and 36.5 in newborns younger than 29 days. In both age groups, neuroblastoma was the most commonly diagnosed neoplasm. Overall, cancer incidence in infants younger than 1 year was almost 3.5 times greater than mortality determined from US death certificates from 1960 to 1969. For individual tumor types, the ratio between incidence and mortality varied between 159 for retinoblastoma and 1.5 for leukemia largely reflecting relative differences in survival due to treatment.