title: Leukemia in Iran: Epidemiology and Morphology Trends.
abstract: BACKGROUND
  Leukemia accounts for 8% of total cancer cases and involves all age groups with different prevalence and incidence rates in Iran and the entire world and causes a significant death toll and heavy expenses for diagnosis and treatment processes. This study was done to evaluate epidemiology and morphology of blood cancer during 2003-2008.
  
  
  METHODS
  This cross- sectional study was carried out based on re- analysis of the Cancer Registry Center report of the Health Deputy in Iran during a 6-year period (2003 - 2008). Statistical analysis for incidence time trends and morphology change percentage was performed with joinpoint regression analysis using the software Joinpoint Regression Program.
  
  
  RESULTS
  During the studied years a total of 18,353 hematopoietic and reticuloendothelial system cancers were recorded. Chi square test showed significant difference between sex and morphological types of blood cancer (P-value<0.001). Joinpoint analysis showed a significant increasing trend for the adjusted standard incidence rate (ASIR) for both sexes (P-value<0.05). Annual percent changes (APC) for women and men were 18.7 and 19.9, respectively. The most common morphological blood cancers were ALL, ALM, MM and CLL which accounted for 60% of total hematopoietic system cancers. Joinpoint analyze showed a significant decreasing trend for ALM in both sexes (P-value<0.05).
  
  
  CONCLUSIONS
  Hematopoietic system cancers in Iran demonstrate an increasing trend for incidence rate and decreasing trend for ALL, ALM and CLL morphology.
authors.affiliation: Department of Epidemiology and Biostatistics, School of Public Health, Tehran University of Medical Sciences, Tehran, Iran E-mail : Rafiemanesh.hosein@gmail.com.
authors.forename: Fatemeh
authors.initials: F
authors.lastname: Koohi
authors.forename: Hamid
authors.initials: H
authors.lastname: Salehiniya
authors.forename: Reza
authors.initials: R
authors.lastname: Shamlou
authors.forename: Soheyla
authors.initials: S
authors.lastname: Eslami
authors.forename: Ziyaeddin Mahery
authors.initials: ZM
authors.lastname: Ghojogh
authors.forename: Yones
authors.initials: Y
authors.lastname: Kor
authors.forename: Hosein
authors.initials: H
authors.lastname: Rafiemanesh
mesh_terms: D003430:Cross-Sectional Studies; D005260:Female; D006801:Humans; D015994:Incidence; D007492:Iran / Q000453:epidemiology; D015451:Leukemia, Lymphocytic, Chronic, B-Cell / Q000191:economics / Q000453:epidemiology* / Q000473:pathology; D015470:Leukemia, Myeloid, Acute / Q000191:economics / Q000453:epidemiology* / Q000473:pathology; D008297:Male; D009101:Multiple Myeloma / Q000191:economics / Q000453:epidemiology* / Q000473:pathology; D054198:Precursor Cell Lymphoblastic Leukemia-Lymphoma / Q000191:economics / Q000453:epidemiology* / Q000473:pathology; D012042:Registries; D012737:Sex Factors