Thoracic Sarcoma: A New Glance at the Epidemiological  Characteristics of Disease in Iran from 2009 to 2014

Hamide  Rahmani Seraji; Mohmmad Esmaeil  Akbari; Hamid  Rezvani; Davood  Bashash; Maryam  Mabani; Atieh  Akbari; Alireza  Raeisi; Ghasem  Janbabee; Sina  Salari

doi:10.18502/ijph.v51i4.9247

Hamide Rahmani Seraji Department of Hematology and Oncology, Taleghani Hospital, Shahid Beheshti University of Medical Sciences, Tehran, Iran
Mohmmad Esmaeil Akbari Cancer Research Center, Shahid Beheshti University of Medical Sciences, Tehran, Iran
Hamid Rezvani Department of Hematology and Oncology, Taleghani Hospital, Shahid Beheshti University of Medical Sciences, Tehran, Iran
Davood Bashash Department of Hematology and Blood Banking, School of Allied Medical Sciences, Shahid Beheshti University of Medical Sciences, Tehran, Iran
Maryam Mabani Department of Hematology and Oncology, Taleghani Hospital, Shahid Beheshti University of Medical Sciences, Tehran, Iran
Atieh Akbari Cancer Research Center, Shahid Beheshti University of Medical Sciences, Tehran, Iran
Alireza Raeisi Department of Internal Medicine, Shiraz University of Medical Sciences, Shiraz, Iran
Ghasem Janbabee Gastrointestinal Cancer Research Center, Faculty of Medicine, Mazandaran University of Medical Sciences, Sari, Iran
Sina Salari Department of Hematology and Oncology, Taleghani Hospital, Shahid Beheshti University of Medical Sciences, Tehran, Iran

DOI: https://doi.org/10.18502/ijph.v51i4.9247

Keywords: Sarcoma; Thorax; Mesothelioma; Incidence; Iran

Abstract

Background: The heterogeneity, high rate of mortality and lack of comprehensive diagnostic methods have categorized primary sarcomas of the thorax as a malignancy with dismal outcomes and unknown etiology. Given the fundamental role of epidemiological analysis in establishing management strategies, we designed a study with focus on the epidemiological characteristics of primary thoracic sarcomas in Iran.

Methods: This national population-based cancer study was conducted on patients with histologically confirmed sarcoma of the thorax referred to the Iranian National Cancer Registry between 2009 and 2014. The incidence was calculated as number of cases per 100,000 person-years and was age-adjusted by the direct method using the weight of the 1960 world standard population.

Results: Over a 6-year period, 1477 cases with pathologically confirmed thoracic sarcomas were registered in Iran, of which 896 were male and 581 were female. Khuzestan Province had the highest incidence of thoracic sarcomas as compared to other provinces. Malignant mesothelioma was the most common histological subtype (20.85%). Moreover, the age-standardized incidence rate (ASR) of the disease was 1.94 per 100,000 which was more common in males than females with the highest incidence rate in men aged more than 65 years.

Conclusion: Our study provided valuable epidemiologic data on characteristics of thoracic sarcomas. This data can be used for strategizing preventive measures.