Epidemiology of ocular cancer in Cali
Reviewed by Nishita Patel

The aim of this study was to describe the population trends of incidence and survival rates of ocular cancer in Cali, Columbia. Data was retrieved from the Registro Poblacion de Cancer de Cali (RPCC, i.e. Population Cancer Registry of Cali) between 1962 and 2019. Residents of Cali aged 15–99 years, with a diagnosis of an invasive malignant eye tumour based on histopathological, clinical, surgical or imaging criteria were included. Metastatic or benign ocular tumours were excluded. The JoinPoint regression model was used to determine the annual percentage change in rates of ocular cancer and the Pohar-Perme estimator to calculate the five-year net survival estimates. Between 1962 and 2019, 586 ocular tumours were registered in Cali, of which 81.7% were histologically confirmed which is comparable to studies based in Taiwan and New York. Fifty-point-five percent occurred in females and the mean age at diagnosis was 45 years (standard deviation = 25). The average annual incidence rate was 7.8 per million for males and 6.9 per million for females. A significant increase in the incidence was only noted for men (annual percentage change (APC) 2.8, 95% CI=0.9–4.7). Age-standardised incidence increased over time for the whole population (APC 1.9, 95% CI=0.6–3.2, p<0.05), possibly associated with the advent of new and improved technologies for diagnosis of ocular tumours. Retinoblastoma (21%) was the most common neoplasm, and remains a relevant public health issue, with an incidence twice that seen in the US. The survival rate was about 83.2% and mortality did not show a decreasing trend over time (p>0.05). Limitations of this study include an insufficient sample size given the rarity of ocular tumours and the use of a population-based registry which could result in underreporting of diagnoses and mortality given that the data had to be retrieved after an active search for cases, and also relied on accurate input of mortality data from death certificates. The retrospective nature of the study could also introduce biases related to a loss of data or questions on the reliability of medical records.

Epidemiology of eye cancer in Cali, Colombia: a 55-year study.
Vega-Escobar K, Bonilla-Escobar FJ, Salamanca O, et al.
OPHTHALMIC EPIDEMIOLOGY
2024;31:374–84.