Oesophageal Cancer
24 February 2025
Introduction
Oesophageal cancer was the twenty-first commonest cancer in Hong Kong, accounting for 1.0% of all new cancer cases in 2022.
Incidence
There were 371 new cases of oesophageal cancer in 2022, with 288 male cases and 83 female cases. The disease was more common among male population and the male to female ratio of incidence was about 3.5 to 1. The crude incidence rates of oesophageal cancer were 8.6 for males and 2.1 for females per 100 000 population of respective sex. The age-standardised incidence rates* of oesophageal cancer were 3.8 for males and 0.8 for females per 100 000 standard population.
Trend of incidence
The age-standardised incidence rate of oesophageal cancer of both sexes, males and females all had a downward trend over the past 40 years (average annual percentage change (AAPC)# between 1983 and 2022: -4.3%, -4.2% and -4.6% respectively) and over the past 10 years (AAPC between 2013 and 2022: -4.3%, -4.2% and -4.6% respectively).
Number of new cases and crude incidence rate of oesophageal cancer by sex, 1983 to 2000 （View）
Number of new cases and crude incidence rate of oesophageal cancer by sex, 2001 to 2022 （View）
Age-standardised incidence rate of oesophageal cancer by sex, 1983 to 2022
| Notes: | * | Age-standardised incidence rates are compiled based on the world standard population specified in GPE Discussion Paper Series: No.31, EIP/GPE/EBD, World Health Organization, 2001. |
| # | AAPC of age-standardised incidence / death rates is a summary measure of the trends in the age-standardised incidence / death rates over a specified interval estimated from joinpoint regression. | |
| Data in the above charts from 1996 onwards are compiled based on the population estimates under the "resident population" approach instead of the "extended de facto" approach. | ||
| Classification of diseases and causes of death is based on the International Statistical Classification of Diseases and Related Health Problems (ICD) 10th Revision from 2001 onwards. Figures from 2001 onwards may not be comparable with figures for previous years which were compiled based on the ICD 9th Revision. | ||
| Sources: | Census and Statistics Department Department of Health Hong Kong Cancer Registry, Hospital Authority |
Mortality
Oesophageal cancer caused 271 deaths in 2023, accounting for 1.8% of all cancer deaths. It was the eleventh leading cause of cancer deaths in Hong Kong. The crude death rates of oesophageal cancer were 6.5 for males and 1.2 for females per 100 000 population of respective sex. The age-standardised death rates* of oesophageal cancer were 2.7 for males and 0.5 for females per 100 000 standard population.
Trend of mortality
The age-standardised death rate of oesophageal cancer of both sexes, males and females all had a downward trend over the past 43 years (average annual percentage change (AAPC)# between 1981 and 2023: -3.6%, -3.4% and -3.9% respectively) and over the past 10 years (AAPC between 2014 and 2023: -4.4%, -4.2% and -4.9% respectively).
Number of registered deaths and crude death rate of oesophageal cancer by sex, 1981 to 2000 （View）
Number of registered deaths and crude death rate of oesophageal cancer by sex, 2001 to 2023 （View）
Age-standardised death rate of oesophageal cancer by sex, 1981 to 2023
| Notes: | * | Age-standardised death rates are compiled based on the world standard population specified in GPE Discussion Paper Series: No.31, EIP/GPE/EBD, World Health Organization, 2001. |
| # | AAPC of age-standardised incidence / death rates is a summary measure of the trends in the age-standardised incidence / death rates over a specified interval estimated from joinpoint regression. | |
| Data in the above charts from 1996 onwards are compiled based on the population estimates under the "resident population" approach instead of the "extended de facto" approach. | ||
| Classification of diseases and causes of death is based on the International Statistical Classification of Diseases and Related Health Problems (ICD) 10th Revision from 2001 onwards. Figures from 2001 onwards may not be comparable with figures for previous years which were compiled based on the ICD 9th Revision. | ||
| Sources: | Census and Statistics Department Department of Health |
Oesophageal cancer corresponds to codes 150 in ICD-9 and C15 in ICD-10.
For more information about cancer statistics in Hong Kong, please visit the website of the Hong Kong Cancer Registry.
For health information relating to cancer, please visit the Cancer Online Resource Hub.
The Centre for Health Protection is a professional arm of the Department of Health for disease prevention and control
