A Population-Based Analysis of Incidence, Mortality, and Survival in Testicular Cancer Patients in Lithuania

Background and objectives: The aim of this study was to analyze trends in testicular cancer incidence, mortality, and survival in Lithuania during the period 1998–2013. Materials and Methods: The study was based on all cases of testicular cancer reported to the Lithuanian Cancer Registry between 1998 and 2013. Age group-specific rates and standardized rates were calculated using the direct method (European standard population). The Joinpoint regression model was used to provide the annual percentage change (APC). Five-year relative survival estimates were calculated using period analysis. Relative survival was calculated as the ratio of the observed survival of cancer patients and the expected survival of the underlying general population. Results: During the study period, the age-standardized incidence rate of testicular cancer increased from 1.97 to 3.45 per 100,000, with APC of 2.97% (95% CI 0.9 to 5.1). Incidence rate of seminomas changed from 0.71 to 1.54 per 100,000, with APC of 2.61% (95% CI −0.4 to 5.7), and the incidence rate of non-seminomas increased from 0.84 to 1.83 per 100,000, with APC of 4.16% (95% CI 1.6 to 6.8). The mortality rate of testicular cancer in Lithuania during this period declined from 0.78 to 0.51 per 100,000, with APC of −2.91% (95% CI −5.5 to −0.3). Relative five-year survival ratio for the period 2009–2013 was 89.39% (95% CI 82.2 to 94.4). In our study, the overall five-year relative survival increased slightly (10.1%) from 2004–2008 to 2009–2013 (from 79.3% to 89.4%). Conclusions: A moderate increase of testicular cancer incidence has been observed in Lithuania between the years 1998 and 2013, while the mortality rate decreased. The five-year relative survival increased according to different period estimates; however, the results could have been higher if a multidisciplinary approach to diagnostics and management in the concerned centers had been implemented in Lithuania as in other countries.