The Incidence Rate of Thyroid Cancer in Saudi Arabia from 2001 to 2016
Author(s): Basim Othman*
Abstract
Introduction: Thyroid cancer is one of the cancer diseases that have noticeably increased over the last decade, and in Saudi Arabia, it ranks as the second most common cancer among females. Aims: This study concerns an evaluation of the incidence trends of thyroid cancer among the Saudi population between 2001 and 2016 using the latest Saudi Cancer Registry (SCR) reports. Material and Methods: The analysis of this study included a total of 10,717 thyroid cancer cases (8,442 females and 2275 males) recorded in the files of the SCR. Results and Discussion: The incidence rate of thyroid cancer from 2001 to 2016 noticeably increased. The most common age group affected by thyroid cancer in both genders was 35–39 years. Between 2001 and 2016, Najran recorded the highest differences in rates of thyroid cancer compared to other Saudi regions. Meanwhile, Northern region clearly recorded a decrease in the rate of female thyroid cancer. Conclusion: Thyroid cancer is the second most common cancer among females in Saudi Arabia, with cases in both genders peaking from 35 to 39 years old. The significant reasons for this upward trend are still unknown. Further epidemiological and clinical research must be conducted to clarify and justify the causes of variations in the prevalence of thyroid cancer between provinces in Saudi Arabia.