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Increased incidence of penile cancer and high-grade penile intraepithelial neoplasia in Denmark 1978–2008: a nationwide population-based study

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Abstract

Objective

To assess the trends in incidence of penile cancer during 1978–2008 and high-grade penile intraepithelial neoplasia (PIN2/3) during 1998–2008 in Denmark.

Methods

Using two nationwide registries, we estimated age- and period-specific incidence rates. Log-linear Poisson regression analysis was used to estimate average annual percentage change (AAPC) and 95% confidence intervals (CI).

Results

We identified 1,488 men with penile cancer and 285 men with PIN2/3. The incidence of penile cancer increased from 1.0 to 1.3 per 100,000 men-years in 1978–1979 to 2006–2008; this represented an AAPC of 0.8% (95% CI: 0.17–1.37). Squamous cell carcinoma (SCC) was the most common histological type (91.7%). The median age at diagnosis was 67 years, and the age-specific incidence rate of penile SCC increased with increasing age. The incidence rate of PIN2/3 increased significantly (0.5 to 0.9 per 100,000 men-years) in 1998–1999 to 2006–2008, and this represented an AAPC of 7.1% (95% CI: 3.30–11.05).

Conclusions

The incidence of penile cancer increased in 1978–2008 in Denmark, and the same applied to PIN2/3 in 1998–2008. A high prevalence of human papillomavirus (HPV) and a low circumcision rate in Denmark may partly explain our results.

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Acknowledgments

We are grateful to Peter Bo Aarslev, Kirsten Frederiksen, and Pernille Clausen for data management and analysis assistance. The study was supported by the Danish Cancer Society.

Conflicts of interest

Christian Munk has received travel grants from Merck & Co, Inc., and Sanofi Pasteur MSD. Susanne K. Kjaer has received consultancy fees and travel expenses from Merck and Sanofi Pasteur MSD. Susanne K. Kjaer has also received funding through her institution to conduct HPV vaccine studies for Merck and Sanofi Pasteur MSD. All other authors report no potential conflicts of interest.

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Authors and Affiliations

  1. Department of Viruses, Hormones and Cancer, Institute of Cancer Epidemiology, Danish Cancer Society, 2100, Copenhagen, Denmark

    Birgitte Baldur-Felskov, Charlotte Gerd Hannibal, Christian Munk & Susanne K. Kjaer

  2. Gynaecological Clinic, Juliane Marie Centre, Rigshospitalet, Copenhagen University Hospital, Copenhagen, Denmark

    Susanne K. Kjaer

Authors
  1. Birgitte Baldur-Felskov
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  2. Charlotte Gerd Hannibal
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  3. Christian Munk
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  4. Susanne K. Kjaer
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Correspondence to Susanne K. Kjaer.

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Baldur-Felskov, B., Hannibal, C.G., Munk, C. et al. Increased incidence of penile cancer and high-grade penile intraepithelial neoplasia in Denmark 1978–2008: a nationwide population-based study. Cancer Causes Control 23, 273–280 (2012). https://doi.org/10.1007/s10552-011-9876-7

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