Cancer Incidence in Oman, 1998-2006

Abstract

<b>Background:</b> This paper gives a profile of the cancer incidence in Oman for a nine-year period from 1998-2006. <br/><b>Methods</b>: Data from the population-based national cancer registry were consolidated for the said nineyearperiod and analyzed. A breakdown of the incidence by year and gender have been given. Age-standardizedincidence of common cancers in Oman and their age-specific rates have been tabulated. Further, a graphicalcomparison between common cancers in Omani men and women have been made with those of other Gulfcountries and some developed countries. <br/><b>Results</b>: There were a total of 8,005 (4,224 males and 3,781 females)cases reported and registered in the registry from January 1998 till December 2006 with a male female ratio of1.1:1. The crude incidence rate was 49.4 per 100,000 males and 45.7 per 100,000 females. The correspondingage-standardized rates were 91.4 and 80.4 per 100,000 in males and females respectively. <br/><b>Conclusions</b>: Incidenceof cancer in Oman is lower than in some Gulf countries and many developed countries. Stomach cancer, Non-Hodgkin lymphoma and leukemia are three commonest cancers in males and breast, thyroid and cervical cancersare the most common in females in the nine-year period