Incidence of myeloid leukaemia in Lancashire

Identification of a "cluster" of cases of acute myeloid leukaemia and chronic myeloproliferative disorders in Lytham St. Annes, Lancashire, prompted an analysis of the incidence of myeloid leukaemias in Lancashire (excluding Ormskirk Health District), as recorded by the Manchester Cancer Registry. Although statistically there was no significant difference in the trend of incidence between the whole former borough of Lytham St. Annes and the other districts studied, the reported incidence of these diseases in the area as a whole had almost doubled, and in two districts nearly trebled, between two consecutive 6 year periods, beginning in 1965. This represents a substantially larger increase than mortality data suggests has occurred nationally in the same period, and is unlikely to be due solely to more accurate diagnosis or reporting.