Open AccessIncidence and trends of ophthalmic cancer in Singapore: Data from Singapore Cancer Registry
Author(s) -
Chin Sheng Teoh,
Preethi Jeyabal,
Stephanie Ming Young,
Vivien Lim
Publication year - 2021
Publication title -
annals, academy of medicine, singapore/annals of the academy of medicine, singapore
Language(s) - English
Resource type - Journals
ISSN - 0304-4602
DOI - 10.47102/annals-acadmedsg.2020488
Subject(s) - medicine , retinoblastoma , incidence (geometry) , cancer registry , cancer , population , malignancy , dermatology , ophthalmology , pathology , biochemistry , chemistry , physics , environmental health , optics , gene
Limited data are available on the incidence of primary ophthalmic cancers worldwide.We describe the incidence and trends of primary ophthalmic cancers in Singapore.Methods: Data on ophthalmic cancers diagnosed in Singapore from 1996 to 2016 were retrievedfrom the Singapore Cancer Registry for analysis. All were histologically proven primary ophthalmiccancers. Calculations of incidence and age-specific frequency of ophthalmic malignancy were made.Results: A total of 297 cases were included, with males constituting 59.9%. The race distributionwas 78.5% Chinese, 16.5% Malay, 3.7% Indians and 1.3% others. There was an overall increase inophthalmic malignancies. The mean age of onset was 47.4 years. The most common cancers wereretinoblastoma (93.3%) in patients younger than 15 years, and lymphoma (71.3%) in patients aged15 years and older. There has been an increase in lymphomas from 16.7% in 1968–1995 to 71.3%in 1996–2016 in those aged 15 years and older. The most common types of ophthalmic cancer accordingto location are lymphoma of the orbit, conjunctiva, cornea and lacrimal gland; retinoblastoma of theretina; and malignant melanoma of the choroid and ciliary body.Conclusion: Our study reported the incidence and trends of ophthalmic cancer in the Singaporepopulation and showed an overall increase in ophthalmic malignancies in Singapore from 1996–2016. Asubstantial increase in lymphomas over the last 2 decades was noted. The data could aid clinicians,epidemiologists and policymakers in implementing strategies to address trends in ophthalmic cancersand spur aetiological research to improve quality of life in pa tients with such cancers.Keywords: Aetiology; epidemiology; malignancy; orbital cancers