Incidence of cervical cancer and age-specific survival of small cell cervical carcinoma in Taiwan

Objective. To determine the incidence of cervical cancer and the age-specific survival from small cell cervical carcinoma in Taiwan. Design. Retrospective study. Setting. Taiwan. Population. Women diagnosed with cervical cancer from 1991 to 2005. Methods. Analysis of data from the National Cancer Registration System and National Death Certification System. Main Outcome Measures. Incidence and age at diagnosis of cervical carcinoma and age-specific and overall survival from small cell cervical carcinoma. Results. During the study period, 36 122 women were diagnosed with cervical cancer, and 81.8% had squamous cell carcinoma (SCC). For the periods 19911995, 19962000 and 20012005, the mean age at diagnosis increased from 53.9 +/- 13.3 to 55.0 +/- 14.9 and then to 56.7 +/- 14.7 years, respectively. The incidence of SCC decreased from 1991 to 2005. During the same period, non-significant increases of adenocarcinoma and small cell carcinoma were noted. For SCC, occurrence peaked in 19911995 in patients 5059 years of age. From 1996 to 2005, it peaked in patients 4049 years of age. For cervical adenocarcinoma, occurrence peaked in patients 4049 years of age, with a steady increase in this age group from 1991 to 2005. Occurrence of small cell cervical carcinoma peaked in the period 19911995 in patients 3039 years of age. During the 15 years of the study, the overall mortality rate of the 198 patients with small cell cervical carcinoma was 65.7%. Conclusions. In Taiwan, the incidence of small cell cervical carcinoma and adenocarcinoma tended to increase, but the incidence of squamous cell cervical carcinoma significantly decreased during the period 19912005.