Oral Health, U.S. 2002 Annual Report
Section 13: ORAL AND PHARYNGEAL CANCER
| 13.1 |
Stage at diagnosis of oral and pharyngeal cancer |
Stage at diagnosis of oral and pharyngeal cancers has a profound influence on survival from the disease. Unfortunately, many oral cancers were diagnosed at advanced (regional or distant 47.7%) versus localized (in situ or local 39.6%) stage, thereby playing a role in the poor survival. The problem of advanced stage at diagnosis was even more dramatic among blacks, with 22.3% being localized and 63.8% advanced at diagnosis, compared to whites, with 41.8% localized and 45.7% advanced at diagnosis. Improvements in earlier detection should allow for improvements in survival, especially among blacks (based on Surveillance, Epidemiology, and End Results [SEER] data for the years 1991 through 1995).
SOURCE OF DATA
The analyses reported here are based on Surveillance, Epidemiology, and End Results (SEER) Cancer Incidence Public-Use Database, 1973-1997, August 1999 Submission.
- Age-adjusted incidence rates were highest for oral and pharyngeal cancers with regional spread, followed by localized cancers. Age-adjusted rates were lowest for in situ lesions (Figure 13.1.1).
- Differences by race/ethnicity (Figure 13.1.2)
- Whites had higher incidence rates of diagnosis than blacks at in situ and localized stages, while blacks had higher rates of diagnosis at regional and distant stages as well as a higher overall incidence rate.
- Differences by gender (Figure 13.1.3)
- Males were more likely (twofold to threefold) than females to be diagnosed with oral and pharyngeal cancers. This is true for every stage at diagnosis and within each racial/ethnic group at each stage at diagnosis.
- Differences by age (Figure 13.1.4)
- Oral and pharyngeal cancers were relatively infrequent below age 40. Five-year age groups showed increases until ages 65-69 after which rates leveled off.
Bullets reference data that can be found in Tables 13.1.1, 13.1.2., and 13.1.3..
Figure 13.1.1. Incidence rates for oral and pharyngeal cancers (1992–1997)
 [D]
Data source: Surveillance, Epidemiology, and End Results (SEER) 11 Registries Public-Use, August 1999 Submission (1992–1997). The rates are per 100,000 and are age-adjusted to the 1970 U.S. standard population.
Figure 13.1.2. Incidence rates for oral and pharyngeal cancers (1992–1997) by stage at diagnosis and race/ethnicity
 [D]
* The totals in this figure include the unstaged cancers.
Data source: Surveillance, Epidemiology, and End Results (SEER) 11 Registries Public-Use, August 1999 Submission (1992–1997). The rates are per 100,000 and are age-adjusted to the 1970 U.S. standard population.
Figure 13.1.3. Incidence rates for oral and pharyngeal cancers (1992–1997) by stage at diagnosis and gender
 [D]
* The totals in this figure include the unstaged cancers.
Data source: Surveillance, Epidemiology, and End Results (SEER) 9 Registries Public-Use, August 1999 Submission (1992–1997). The rates are per 100,000 and are age-adjusted to the 1970 U.S. standard population.
Figure 13.1.4. Incidence rates for oral and pharyngeal cancers (1992–1997) by age group
 [D]
Data source: Surveillance, Epidemiology, and End Results (SEER) 11 Registries Public-Use, August 1999 Submission (1992–1997). The rates are per 100,000 and are age-adjusted to the 1970 U.S. standard population.
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