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Global Incidence, Risk Factors, and Trends of Pharyngeal Cancer by Anatomical Sites: A Systematic Analysis of Cancer
Junjie Huang1,2, Sze Chai Chan1, Wing Sze Pang1
1The Jockey Club School of Public Health and Primary Care, Faculty of Medicine, Chinese University of Hong Kong, Hong Kong SAR, China.
Purpose:
Nasopharyngeal, oropharyngeal, and hypopharyngeal cancers are the three types of pharyngeal malignancies that vary in prognosis. This study aims to evaluate the global disease incidence, risk factors, and trends of pharyngeal cancer by anatomical sites.
Methods:
The Global Cancer Observatory, Global Burden of Disease, and Cancer Incidence in Five Continents Plus, were accessed to investigate the disease burden and related risk factors by anatomical site. Average Annual Percentage Changes were computed using Joinpoint regression to assess trends in age-standardized rates (ASR) of incidence of pharyngeal cancer.
Results:
An estimated total of 316,020 (ASR=3.5) pharyngeal cancer cases were reported in 2020, with nasopharyngeal cancer being the most prevalent subtype (1.7), followed by oropharyngeal (1.1) and hypopharyngeal cancer (0.91). Nasopharyngeal, oropharyngeal, and hypopharyngeal cancers were most common in South-Eastern Asia (ASR = 5.0), Western Europe (ASR = 2.8), and South-Central Asia (ASR = 2.1), respectively. Higher Human Development Index (HDI), smoking, alcohol drinking, unhealthy dietary habits, hypertension, and lipid disorders were associated with higher pharyngeal cancer incidence. The results indicated a declining or constant trend in hypopharyngeal and nasopharyngeal cancers and a notable rise in oropharyngeal cancer.
Conclusion:
The incidence of pharyngeal cancer subtypes demonstrates significant geographical heterogeneity. While hypopharyngeal and nasopharyngeal cancers are declining or stable, oropharyngeal cancer is on a clear upward trajectory. Given the prolonged latency between risk factor exposure and clinical onset, the oropharyngeal cancer burden is projected to rise further.
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