Incidence, prevalence, and survival trends for neuroendocrine neoplasms in Victoria, Australia, from 1982 to 2019: Based on site, grade, and region

Aims Neuroendorcine neoplasms (NENs) are rare tumors characterised by variable biology and delayed diagnosis. Several population studies have reported a marked increased incidence over time. The objectives of this analysis were to describe within Victoria (the second largest Australian state, 6.4 Million) the trends for NENs incidence/survival over nearly 38 years (1982–2019), and regional differences in survival. Methods All NEN cases were identified from the Victorian Cancer Registry over four time periods: 1982–1989, 1990–1999, 2000—2009, and 2010–2019. Data collected included primary tumor site, histological grade, gender, overall survival (OS), and place of residence. Incidence data were analyzed with the generation of annual standardized rates (ASR). OS was assessed for the entire cohort and between geographical regions. Results The overall NEN population (1982–2019) included 8,106 patients: over 60% grade 1/2 NENs, especially small bowel and colorectal. The number of new diagnoses increased over three‐fold over time for the overall cohort and by tumoral categories. The ASR increased similarly, especially pancreatic NENs (4.3‐fold) and differed between genders. The 5‐year OS rates and median OS increased over time for the overall cohort: from 52% to 67% (p