title: Increasing incidence of thyroid cancer in Puerto Rico, 1985-2004.
abstract: OBJECTIVE
  Thyroid cancer has become one of the fastest growing malignancies in several countries worldwide. Few studies have examined thyroid cancer trends in Puerto Rico, and those studies have been conducted over relatively short time frames. This study aimed to describe both overall thyroid cancer incidence trends by age, sex, and histology, and the mortality rate by age and sex in Puerto Rico for the period of 1985 to 2004.
  
  
  METHODS
  Using the Central Cancer Registry of Puerto Rico database, we conducted a retrospective study of patients with thyroid cancer diagnosed from January 1, 1985, to December 31, 2004.
  
  
  RESULTS
  The overall incidence rate of thyroid cancer increased from 3.0 to 7.0 per 100,000 population (a 2.3-fold increase), with an annual percent change (APC) of 5.3% (p < 0.05) during the period of 1985 to 2004. Incidence rates were higher for females (rising from 4.7 in 1985 to 10.5 per 100,000 women in 2004) compared to those for males (rising from 1.1 in 1985 to 3.0 per 100,000 men in 2004). The rising trend was mostly due to an increase in the incidence of papillary thyroid cancer, which rose from 2.4 to 6.0 per 100,000 population (a 2.5-fold increase), with an APC of 5.7% (p < 0.05). The overall mortality rate of thyroid cancer was very low (0.4 in 1985 and 0.3 per 100,000 population in 2004), with a non-significant APC of -1.1% (p > 0.05).
  
  
  CONCLUSIONS
  The incidence of thyroid cancer in Puerto Rico increased significantly from 1985 to 2004, mostly due to an increase of papillary cancer. However, the mortality remained low.
authors.affiliation: Endocrinology Section, Department of Medicine, University of Puerto Rico School of Medicine, San Juan, Puerto Rico. ramirezvick@onelinkpr.net
authors.forename: Margarita
authors.initials: M
authors.lastname: Ramírez-Vick
authors.forename: Mariela
authors.initials: M
authors.lastname: Nieves-Rodríguez
authors.forename: Ana
authors.initials: A
authors.lastname: Lúgaro-Gómez
authors.forename: Javier
authors.initials: J
authors.lastname: Pérez-Irizarry
mesh_terms: D000293:Adolescent; D000328:Adult; D017677:Age Distribution; D000368:Aged; D000369:Aged, 80 and over; D002648:Child; D002675:Child, Preschool; D005260:Female; D006801:Humans; D015994:Incidence; D007223:Infant; D008297:Male; D008875:Middle Aged; D011647:Puerto Rico / Q000453:epidemiology; D012189:Retrospective Studies; D013964:Thyroid Neoplasms / Q000453:epidemiology*; D013997:Time Factors; D055815:Young Adult