Increasing incidence of cholangiocarcinoma in Crete 1992-2000.
BACKGROUND
There have been recent reports of an increased incidence of cholangiocarcinoma.


METHODS
Patients with cholangiocarcinoma, resident on the island of Crete, diagnosed between 1992 and 2000, were studied. Case ascertainment was enhanced by collaboration of the pathology departments and all gastroenterologists of Crete in providing relevant data. A specially designed patient protocol was used. Crude incidence rates are presented.


RESULTS
During the 9-year period 7 patients were diagnosed with cholangiocarcinoma of the intrahepatic ducts, 17 with Klatskin and 16 patients with extrahepatic ducts carcinoma. A steady incidence increase of cholangiocarcinoma, irrespective of location, was shown. The estimated incidence rate per three-year period progressively increased from 0.998 to 2.329 and 3.327 per 100,000 for the periods 92-94, 95-97 and 98-2000, respectively. Median survival time was 8.5 months. No significant difference was seen between survival according to the location of cholangiocarcinoma.


CONCLUSIONS
A steady incidence increase of cholangiocarcinoma cases in Crete during the time-period 1992-2000 was shown.
Mouzas
Ioannis A
IA
Gastroenterology Department, Medical School, University of Crete, P.O. 1393, 71110 Heraklion, Greece. mouzas@med.uoc.gr
Dimoulios
Philippos
P
Vlachonikolis
Ioannis G
IG
Skordilis
Panagiotis
P
Zoras
Odysseus
O
Kouroumalis
Elias
E
D001650:Bile Duct Neoplasms / Q000175:diagnosis / Q000453:epidemiology* / Q000401:mortality; D018281:Cholangiocarcinoma / Q000175:diagnosis / Q000453:epidemiology* / Q000401:mortality; D005260:Female; D006115:Greece / Q000453:epidemiology; D006801:Humans; D015994:Incidence; D008297:Male; D015996:Survival Rate