Size-specific and histology-specific analysis of thyroid cancer incidence and trends in Algeria over two decades as proxies to distangle a true increase from overdiagnosis

Houda Boukheris*, Achour Zineb

Abstract

Background: Thyroid cancer (TC) incidence is increasing worldwide. However, the question remains on whether this increase is true due to known or still unknown risk factors, or apparent due to overdiagnosis of small indolent tumors. In Algeria TC incidence has increased over the past two decades. We carried out a detailed population-based analysis in order to determine TC incidence rates (IRs) and temporal trends, according to factors such as gender, histological subtypes, and tumor size over a 21-year period in the province of Oran in Algeria.