Epidemiology of Eye Cancer in Cali, Colombia: A 55-Year Study

ABSTRACT

Purpose

To describe the epidemiology, incidence, mortality and survival of ocular cancer in Cali between 1962 and 2019.

Methods

Ecological population-based study analyzing data of incidence, mortality, and 5-years survival of malignant ocular tumors from the Populational Cancer Registry of Cali between 1962 and 2019.

Results

Between 1962 and 2019, 586 ocular tumors were found, 50.5% occurred in females, the mean age at diagnosis was 45 years (standard deviation = 25), 70.3% of ocular malignancies occurred in >14 years. The average annual incidence rate was 7.8 per million for male and 6.9 per million for females. Retinoblastoma (21%), squamous cell carcinoma (20%), melanoma (16%) and lymphoma (8%) were the most common neoplasm. In those <15 years, the most frequent malignant tumors were retinoblastomas (85.7%), followed by non-specified malignant neoplasm (NOS, 7.9%), and rhabdomyosarcoma (3.6%). In those >14 years, there were NOS (30%), followed by squamous cell carcinomas (28%), melanomas (23%), and lymphomas (9.7%). Conjunctiva (38.2%), retina (21%) and orbit (10%) constituted the majority of anatomical sites of ocular tumors. The survival rate was about 83.2% and mortality did not show a decreasing trend over time (p > .05).

Conclusions

The incidence of ocular cancer in Cali has a slightly increasing trend, with stable behavior in the last decades. Squamous cell carcinoma, retinoblastoma, melanoma and lymphoma are the most frequent ocular cancers, with being retinoblastoma more frequent than melanoma. In general, ocular cancer had good survival rates in Cali.

KEYWORDS:

• Colombia
• epidemiology
• incidence
• ocular cancer
• registries

Disclosure statement

No potential conflict of interest was reported by the author(s).

Statement of submission

This submission has not been published anywhere previously and that it is not simultaneously being considered for any other publication.

Credit author statement

Study design: KVE, FJBE, OS, AMB, LEB

Data collection: LSG, PC, LEB

Data analysis and interpretation: KVE, FJBE, OS, AMB, LSG, PC, LEB

Manuscript drafting and final review: KVE, FJBE, OS, AMB, LSG, PC, LEB

Grant and laboratory support: LEB

Agreement to be accountable for all aspects of the work in ensuring that questions related to the accuracy or integrity of any part of the work are appropriately investigated and resolved: KVE, FJBE, OS, AMB, LSG, PC, LEB.

Additional information

Funding

The author(s) reported that there is no funding associated with the work featured in this article.