title: Global incidence and outcome of testicular cancer.
abstract: BACKGROUND
  Testicular cancer is a rare tumor type accounting for 1% of malignancies in men. It is, however, the most common cancer in young men in Western populations. The incidence of testicular cancer is increasing globally, although a decline in mortality rates has been reported in Western countries. It is important to identify whether the variations in trends observed between populations are linked to genetic or environmental factors.
  
  
  METHODS
  Age-standardized incidence rates and age-standardized mortality rates for testicular cancer were obtained for men of all ages in ten countries from the Americas, Asia, Europe, and Oceania using the Cancer Incidence in Five Continents (CI5plus) and World Health Organization (WHO) mortality databases. The annual percent change was calculated using Joinpoint regression to assess temporal changes between geographical regions.
  
  
  RESULTS
  Testicular cancer age-standardized incidence rates are highest in New Zealand (7.8), UK (6.3), Australia (6.1), Sweden (5.6), USA (5.2), Poland (4.9), and Spain (3.8) per 100,000 men. India, China, and Colombia had the lowest incidence (0.5, 1.3, and 2.2, respectively) per 100,000 men. The annual percent changes for overall testicular cancer incidence significantly increased in the European countries Sweden 2.4%, (2.2; 2.6); UK 2.9%, (2.2; 3.6); and Spain 5.0%, (1.7; 8.4), Australia 3.0%, (2.2; 3.7), and China 3.5%, (1.9; 5.1). India had the lowest overall testicular cancer incidence -1.7%, (-2.5; -0.8). Annual percent changes for overall testicular cancer mortality rates were decreasing in all study populations, with the greatest decline observed in Sweden -4.2%, (-4.8; -3.6) and China -4.9%, (-6.5; -3.3).
  
  
  CONCLUSIONS
  Testicular cancer is increasing in incidence in many countries; however, mortality rates remain low and most men are cured. An understanding of the risks and long-term side effects of treatment are important in managing men with this disease.
authors.affiliation: King's College London, School of Medicine, Division of Cancer Studies, Cancer Epidemiology Group, London, UK.
authors.forename: Thurkaa
authors.initials: T
authors.lastname: Shanmugalingam
authors.forename: Aspasia
authors.initials: A
authors.lastname: Soultati
authors.forename: Simon
authors.initials: S
authors.lastname: Chowdhury
authors.forename: Sarah
authors.initials: S
authors.lastname: Rudman
authors.forename: Mieke
authors.initials: M
authors.lastname: Van Hemelrijck
keywords: global; incidence; mortality; testicular cancer