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CC BY-NC-ND 4.0 · South Asian J Cancer 2022; 11(03): 201-206
DOI: 10.1055/s-0041-1731969
Original Article
Gastrointestinal Cancer

Incidence and Patterns of Liver Cancers in Sri Lanka from 2001 to 2010: Analysis of National Cancer Registry Data

Authors

  • Umesh Jayarajah

    1   Department of Surgery, Faculty of Medicine, University of Colombo, Colombo, Sri Lanka

  • Viraj Udayanga

    1   Department of Surgery, Faculty of Medicine, University of Colombo, Colombo, Sri Lanka

  • Ashan Fernando

    1   Department of Surgery, Faculty of Medicine, University of Colombo, Colombo, Sri Lanka

  • Dharmabandhu N. Samarasekera

    1   Department of Surgery, Faculty of Medicine, University of Colombo, Colombo, Sri Lanka

  • Sanjeewa Seneviratne

    1   Department of Surgery, Faculty of Medicine, University of Colombo, Colombo, Sri Lanka

Funding None.
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Abstract

Zoom
Sanjeewa Seneviratne

Objectives Varying trends in the incidence of liver cancer have been observed in many Asian countries. We conducted this study to examine trends in liver cancer incidence and histological patterns in Sri Lanka.

Materials and Methods All newly diagnosed patients with liver cancer included in Sri Lanka National Cancer Registry during 2001 to 2010 were analyzed.

Statistical Analysis Joinpoint regression analysis was performed. A p-value of less than 0.05 was considered statistically significant.

Results Overall, 1,482 (male:female = 2.7:1; mean age = 57.5 years) liver cancers were analyzed. Majority were hepatocellular carcinomas (n = 1,169; 78.9%), followed by intrahepatic cholangiocarcinomas (n = 100; 6.75%). Highest incidence of liver cancer was observed in 70–74-year age group (5.1/100,000). Overall, the World Health Organization age-standardized rate (ASR) has increased during 2001 to 2004, from 0.6/100,000 (95% confidence interval [CI] = 0.48–0.72) to 1.0/100,000 (95% CI = 0.85–1.15), with an estimated annual percentage change (EAPC) of 17.8 (95% CI = 5.0–46.2); p > 0.05. From 2004 to 2010, a gradual decline in the incidence was observed. ASR in 2010 was 0.96 (95% CI = 0.81–1.1), with an EAPC of –0.9 (95% CI = –6.7 to 5.4); p > 0.05. Similar patterns of incidence change were observed in both genders.

Conclusions Overall, the incidence of liver cancer appears to be steadily declining in Sri Lanka. Similar patterns of incidence change were observed in both genders. The actual decline is likely to be greater as it is likely that diagnostic scrutiny and reporting would have improved during the study period.

Keywords

incidence - age-standardized rate - liver cancer - Sri Lanka - National Cancer Registry

Ethical Approval Statement

Ethical approval for th is study was obtained from the ethical review committee of Faculty of Medicine, University of Colombo.


Authors' Contributions

UJ, VU, and AF analyzed the data and wrote the first version of the manuscript. AF, SS, and DNS provided the data, advised on analysis, and provided comments on the manuscript. UJ, VU, SS, and DNS conceived the idea, supervised the data analysis, and wrote the final version of the manuscript. All authors read and approved the final manuscript.


Declaration

The abstract of this study was presented at the Asian-Pacific Digestive Week 2019 held in Kolkata, India.[22]


List of Abbreviations

WHO: World Health Organization


EAPC: Estimated annual percentage change


CI: Confidence interval


ASR: Age-standardized rate


HCC: Hepatocellular carcinoma


ICC: Intrahepatic cholangiocarcinoma


HBV: Hepatitis B Virus


HCV: Hepatitis C Virus




Publication History

Article published online:
25 April 2022

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