Distribución geográfica de la incidencia de cáncer de beneficiarios de un convenio de atención oncológica en Chile

Cancer incidence reported by The Global Cancer Observatory (GLOBOCAN) is an estimate based on the registries available in each country. Their validity in regions such as Latin America is affected by the lack of reliable data and less access to healthcare among the population. Studying the geographic distribution of the incidence of malignant tumors facilitates the search for risk factors and allows prioritizing health resources. Aim: To estimate the incidence of the main malignant tumors in Chilean people with access to a private healthcare insurance at an oncological institute, and to know its geographical distribution. Material and Methods: Incident cancer cases during 2017 and 2018 were obtained from the institution's Tumor Registry. The incidence was adjusted by age and sex of the Chilean population obtained from the 2017 Census. Cancer rates were calculatedfor each of the 16 administrative regions in Chile. Results: Overall, the incidence of breast, lung, colon and thyroid cancers in the studied population was significantly higher than estimates for Chile reported by GLOBOCANfor 2020, especiallyfor thyroid cancer. There is a higher incidence of breast cancer in Greater Santiago and of lung cancer in men in the Antofagasta Region. Conclusions: The regional differences observed are explained by known risk factors. However the high incidence of lung and colon cancer in the Los Ríos Region requires further studies.

Epidemiología y características anatomoclínicas del melanoma maligno en un instituto oncológico / Epidemiology and clinical features of malignant melanoma. Analysis of 274 cases

BACKGROUND: Malignant melanoma (MM) is the most fatal cutaneous neoplasm. Its incidence is increasing progressively, which cannot be explained only by early diagnosis. Chilean population, due to the geography of the country, has a very varied solar exposure. AIM: To know the incidence of MM in a Chilean population, according to the level of sun exposure and to describe its clinical and histopathological characteristics. MATERIAL AND METHODS: Two hundred seventy-four surgeries for malignant melanoma with histological confirmation, carried out between 2016 and 2018 in an oncological institute were included. RESULTS: The annualized incidence of MM was 13.83 cases per 100,000 people over 15 years of age in the 2016-2018 period. The geographical distribution of the incidence did not have a clear relationship with sun exposure. The most frequent locations of the primary lesions were trunk, head/neck and lower limb. Sixty-one per cent of cases were invasive MM; lesion thickness and presence of ulceration were associated with a higher risk of sentinel node involvement. CONCLUSIONS: No association between the level of sun exposure and the incidence of MM was observed in this study.