title: Incidence of childhood cancers in Poland in 1995-1999.
abstract: BACKGROUND
  The annual rate for childhood cancers in developed countries amounts to 105-130 new cases per 1 million children. The Polish population aged 0-17 years is estimated at approximately 10 million children and adolescents, thus ca. 1100-1300 new cases can be expected every year. In 1995, we started a national childhood cancer registry.
  
  
  METHODS
  Information on the new diagnoses of childhood cancers was collected in 11 regional centers and submitted to the national center in Lublin. All data were verified carefully and standardized incidence rates were calculated.
  
  
  RESULTS
  In 1995, we registered 1028 newly diagnosed malignant neoplasms, in 1996 and 1997 - 1036 cases, in 1998 - 1007, and in 1999 - 1158 new cases. The estimated incidence rates were: 102.4; 109.5; 111.9; 111.6 and 118.3 per 1 million children, respectively. The most frequent childhood cancers include leukemia, which accounts for 28% of cancer cases, lymphoma (14.3%) and C. N. S. tumors (16.3%).
  
  
  CONCLUSIONS
  Neoplasms of the hematopoietic system (leukemias and lymphomas) account for about 42% of all childhood cancers. Malignant lymphomas, bone tumors and germinal tumors are more frequently diagnosed in Poland, but the incidence of central nervous system tumors is lower than in other countries.
authors.affiliation: Clinic of Pediatric Hematology and Oncology, Medical University of Lublin, Poland.
authors.forename: Jerzy R
authors.initials: JR
authors.lastname: Kowalczyk
authors.forename: Ewa
authors.initials: E
authors.lastname: Dudkiewicz
authors.forename: Walentyna
authors.initials: W
authors.lastname: Balwierz
authors.forename: Janina
authors.initials: J
authors.lastname: Bogusławska-Jaworska
authors.forename: Roma
authors.initials: R
authors.lastname: Rokicka-Milewska
mesh_terms: D000293:Adolescent; D002648:Child; D002675:Child, Preschool; D006801:Humans; D007223:Infant; D007938:Leukemia / Q000453:epidemiology; D008223:Lymphoma / Q000453:epidemiology; D009369:Neoplasms / Q000453:epidemiology*; D011044:Poland / Q000453:epidemiology; D012042:Registries; D012189:Retrospective Studies