Cancer Incidence and Mortality among Children and Adolescents: a Narrative Review

Abstract

Introduction: Cancer in children and adolescents aged 0-19 years is a public health problem in both developed and developing countries. It is considered rare and distinct when compared to cancer in adults. They present patterns of incidence and mortality vary throughout the world, with approximately 80% of childhood cancers occurring in low human development countries, with access to poor quality health care services. Objective: To present an overview of cancer in children and adolescents aged 0-19 years, with an emphasis on describing the results of population-based studies for incidence and mortality in different geographic regions in the World and Brazil. Results: Overall cancer incidence rates in children and adolescents aged 0-19 years old ranged from 50 to 200 cases per million per year in different countries and continents. In Brazil, the median incidence rates were 154.3 per million. Mortality declined in several parts of the world, being considered the second cause of death in developed countries. Conclusion: The information from the cancer registries are indispensable in coping with cancer in the pediatric population, especially in developing countries, where the impact of cancer is poorly understood, while its effect on the population is increasing. Improvements in the adoption of integrated treatment strategies should be considered to improve cancer mortality rates in children and adolescents in Brazil and in the World.