Aim: We classified subtypes of hematologic cancer in Japan's National Cancer Registry (NCR) in 2016 by ICD-O-3 code and compared numbers with the Japanese Society of Hematology's Blood Diseases Registry (BDR).Materials & methods: We reviewed data for individual cases, and calculated incidence per 100,000.Results: NCR reported 67,919 cases of hematological cancer, including diffuse large B-cell lymphoma, Not Otherwise Specified (NOS) (11.07 per 100,000), plasma cell myeloma (5.26/100,000), myelodysplastic syndrome, NOS (3.92/100,000), malignant lymphoma, NOS (3.03/100,000), marginal zone B-cell lymphoma, NOS (2.52/100,000) and follicular lymphoma, grade 1 (1.43/100,000). Around 48% of NCR cancers were also reported in the Blood Diseases Registry.Conclusion: ICD-O-3 codes revealed 12,365 additional cases to the 55,554 reported publicly. Accurately updated data are necessary for medical resource planning.
Keywords: blood diseases registry; hematologic cancer; japan; national cancer registry; rare cancer.
Japan’s National Cancer Registry started in 2016, when 157 hematologic cancer subtypes and 67,919 cases (males: 37,916; females: 30,003) were reported, giving a cancer case incidence of 53.51 per 100,000. The most common hematologic cancers were diffuse large B-cell lymphoma, NOS (11.07 per 100,000), plasma cell myeloma (5.26 per 100,000) and myelodysplastic syndrome, NOS (3.92 per 100,000). Incidence data under ICD-O-3 by age and sex revealed different patterns among subtypes, allowing more accurate estimation of future patient numbers. This in turn allows grouping of indications to suit clinical needs, and aids pharmaceutical companies in understanding patient populations for new drugs.