Thyroid cancer “epidemic” also occurs in low- and middle-income countries

A new study by researchers from the International Agency for Research on Cancer (IARC) and partners examined population-based cancer registry data for thyroid cancer and revealed very high incidence rates in some low- and middle-income countries, comparable to those in some high-income countries where overdiagnosis is known to play an important role. The highest rates occurred in urban areas and in countries where diagnostic equipment is abundant and is not subject to regulatory control. The findings may suggest that, similarly to in high-income countries, increased surveillance and advanced diagnostic practices in some low- and middle-income countries have produced an epidemic of thyroid cancer diagnoses.

Lortet-Tieulent J, Franceschi S, Dal Maso L, Vaccarella S
Thyroid cancer “epidemic” also occurs in low- and middle-income countries
Int J Cancer, Published online 22 September 2018; https://doi.org/10.1002/ijc.31884

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