Childhood cancer incidence in Delhi, 1996-2000

Background : Rates of cancer incidence in children are scarce in developing countries. The purpose of this study is to provide the cancer incidence rates among the children of Delhi during 1996-2000. Methods : Data from the Delhi Population based cancer registry were utilized for this study. The analysis was limited to children < 15 years of age. Cancer cases were restricted to those patients with a malignant neoplasm diagnosed between 1 st January 1996 and 31 st December 2000. Results: The share of childhood cancer up to 14 years of age in Delhi was 4.8% of all cancers. The incidence of Leukemia was predominant among both males and females. In general rates were higher among male children compared to females. When standardized age adjusted incidence rates obtained from different national registries were compared, the age adjusted incidence rates in Delhi were higher in both male and female children except in Chennai Registry where the female cancer incidence is higher. Conclusion: The results of the present study reveals that the cancer incidence among male children is more in Delhi compared to their female counter parts.