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Tracking Changes in Age Distribution of Head and Neck Cancer in the U.S. from 1975-2016
  • Shilpika Bajpai,
  • Nan Zhang,
  • David Lott
Shilpika Bajpai
University of Kansas Medical Center

Corresponding Author:[email protected]

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Nan Zhang
Mayo Clinic
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David Lott
Mayo Clinic Arizona
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Abstract

Introduction There is currently a lack of available data clearly addressing whether the proportion of young patients diagnosed with head and neck cancer (HNC) within the U.S. has increased over the last several decades in comparison to other age cohorts. This study attempts to elucidate any trends in oral cavity, oropharynx, larynx and hypopharynx cancer age distribution in the United States population from 1975-2016. Unlike previous studies, this paper does not track incidence, but rather reports proportional changes of prevalence within age cohorts over time. Methods This is a retrospective chart review centered on data from the Surveillance, Epidemiology, and End Results (SEER) Program of the National Cancer Institute (NCI). Each decade interval from 1975-2016 displays the proportion of HNC patients, classified by primary tumor subsite, within each age cohort. Results Mean age at diagnosis increased for three of the four HNC evaluated. Oropharyngeal cancer was the only subsite to demonstrate an overall proportional increase, mainly in middle age (40-59 years) patients. Cancers of the oral cavity were the only subset to show a true increase in the proportion of young (0-39 years) patients. When stratifying by gender, the proportion of young patients in female HNC cases is higher than the proportion of young male HNC cases. Conclusion Overall, this study demonstrates an increased proportion of older HNC patients that is consistent with the aging population. Oral cavity is the only cancer to demonstrate a true increase in the proportion of young patients, likely from the increased incidence of young women diagnosed with this cancer. Case reports citing more young patients becoming diagnosed with other types of HNC are not currently supported by the data. Lastly, the increased proportion of middle-age patients with oropharyngeal cancer likely reflects the increase in HPV-related cancers.
14 May 2020Submitted to Clinical Otolaryngology
15 May 2020Submission Checks Completed
15 May 2020Assigned to Editor
28 May 2020Reviewer(s) Assigned
28 Feb 2021Review(s) Completed, Editorial Evaluation Pending
01 Mar 2021Editorial Decision: Revise Minor
07 Mar 20211st Revision Received
11 Mar 2021Submission Checks Completed
11 Mar 2021Assigned to Editor
14 Mar 2021Reviewer(s) Assigned
25 Mar 2021Review(s) Completed, Editorial Evaluation Pending
28 Mar 2021Editorial Decision: Revise Major
16 May 20212nd Revision Received
17 May 2021Submission Checks Completed
17 May 2021Assigned to Editor
23 May 2021Review(s) Completed, Editorial Evaluation Pending
23 May 2021Editorial Decision: Accept
02 Jun 2021Published in Clinical Otolaryngology. 10.1111/coa.13817