Epidemiology of Thyroid Cancer in Jordan Over Two Decades: 2000-2019

Thyroid cancer (TC) represents a growing global health burden with a significant increase in worldwide incidence. However, there are no comprehensive reports on TC incidence and its trend in Jordan to complement worldwide reports. This study investigates the incidence of TC in Jordan for the period 2000-2019.

Data were extracted from the Jordan Cancer Registry. Age- and sex-specific incidence rates, as well as overall age-standardized incidence rates (ASIRs), were computed and analyzed. ASIRs were computed using direct age standardization to the WHO world standard population.

In the period between 2000 and 2019, 3,857 new cases of TC were reported in Jordan; 23.9% occurred in males and 76.1% in females, with a male-to-female ratio of 1:3. Papillary TC constituted 79.2% of cases followed by follicular (9.2%) and medullary (2%) cancers. ASIR rose from 1.7 per 100,000 in 2000 to 5.6 per 100,000 in 2019 (P < .001) with an average ASIR of 4.1 (1.4 in males and 6.3 in females). The annual increase in ASIR was statistically significant in most years. The highest ASIR was in women aged 30-39 years. Mean incidence age was approximately 42.9 years (range, 2-90). Almost half of the patients were aged 30-49 years.

This study represents the most comprehensive and updated epidemiologic analysis of TC in Jordan, highlighting a significant rise in incidence between 2000 and 2019, particularly among women aged 30-39 years. By providing long-term national data, this study contributes to a wider framework aimed at improving cancer surveillance, contextualizing global TC trends, and guiding future research in Jordan, where national cancer control strategies remain an evolving priority.