Nasopharyngeal Cancer
24 February 2025
Introduction
Nasopharyngeal cancer (NPC) is more common in the southern part of China than in Western countries. In 2022, NPC was the fourteenth commonest cancer in Hong Kong, accounting for 2.0% of all new cancer cases. In addition, NPC was the tenth commonest cancer in men.
Incidence
In 2022, there were 705 new cases of NPC, with 522 male cases and 183 female cases. The male to female ratio of incidence was about 2.9 to 1. The crude incidence rates of NPC were 15.6 for males and 4.6 for females per 100 000 population of respective sex. The age-standardised incidence rates* of NPC were 10.1 for males and 2.9 for females per 100 000 standard population.
Trend of incidence
The age-standardised incidence rate of NPC 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: -3.3%, -2.8% and -3.7% respectively) and over the past 10 years (AAPC between 2013 and 2022: -2.9%, -2.3% and -3.3% respectively).
Number of new cases and crude incidence rate of nasopharyngeal cancer by sex, 1983 to 2000 （View）
Number of new cases and crude incidence rate of nasopharyngeal cancer by sex, 2001 to 2022 （View）
Age-standardised incidence rate of nasopharyngeal 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
Nasopharyngeal cancer (NPC) caused 254 deaths in 2023, accounting for 1.7% of all cancer deaths. It was the thirteenth leading cause of cancer deaths in Hong Kong. The crude death rates of NPC were 6.0 for males and 1.2 for females per 100 000 population of respective sex. The age-standardised death rates* of NPC were 3.2 for males and 0.6 for females per 100 000 standard population.
Trend of mortality
The age-standardised death rate of NPC 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: -4.1%, -3.8% and -4.6% respectively) and over the past 10 years (AAPC between 2014 and 2023: -4.1%, -3.8% and -4.6% respectively).
Number of registered deaths and crude death rate of nasopharyngeal cancer by sex, 1981 to 2000 （View）
Number of registered deaths and crude death rate of nasopharyngeal cancer by sex, 2001 to 2023 （View）
Age-standardised death rate of nasopharyngeal 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 |
NPC corresponds to codes 147 in ICD-9 and C11 in ICD-10.
For more information about cancer statistics in Hong Kong, please visit the website of the Hong Kong Cancer Registry.
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