Epidemiological Landscape of Head and Neck Cancer in Southern Brazil: A Population-Based Analysis of Prevalence and Healthcare Access (2022-2026)
Renan Garcia Artus, Leonardo Storch, Pedro Melo, Pedro Henrique Ribeiro Teixeira, Rafael Amengual Duarte, Lucas Guimarães, Henrique Da Rocha FronchetiPURPOSE
To analyze the prevalence and clinical-epidemiological profile of head and neck cancer in Southern Brazil. This study aims to quantify the regional disease burden and assess the efficiency of the healthcare system regarding cancer staging and treatment initiation.
METHODS
A retrospective, population-based study was conducted using secondary data from the National Oncology Panel (DATASUS). Cases of oral cavity and pharynx cancer (CID C00-C14) and laryngeal cancer (CID C32) diagnosed between 2022 and 2026 in the Southern region (Paraná, Santa Catarina, and Rio Grande do Sul) were analyzed. Cumulative prevalence rates per 100,000 inhabitants were calculated based on regional population estimates. Clinical variables included tumor staging and the timeline for treatment initiation.
RESULTS
A total of 22,350 HNC cases were identified, with 18,532 (82.9%) corresponding to oral cavity and pharyngeal malignancies and 3,818 (17.1%) to laryngeal cancer. The cumulative prevalence rate for the period reached 74.5 cases per 100,000 inhabitants. Clinical data revealed a critical pattern of late-stage diagnosis: 40.2% of oral/pharyngeal cancers and 36.8% of laryngeal cancers were classified as stage III or IV at entry. Furthermore, the analysis of healthcare access indicated significant delays; among patients with recorded treatment timelines, 50.4% of those with oral/pharyngeal cancer and 35.2% of those with laryngeal cancer were already in advanced stages upon treatment initiation. A high rate of “Ignored” staging data (n = 7,025) was also observed, suggesting gaps in health information. High prevalence rates are probably associated with regional customs such as hot “mate” and alcohol/tobacco consumption. These are not, of course, the only factors at play.
CONCLUSION
Southern Brazil exhibits an alarmingly high prevalence of head and neck cancer, significantly exceeding patterns observed in other national clusters. The high frequency of advanced-stage diagnoses and treatment delays highlight persistent barriers to early detection and specialized care. These findings emphasize the urgent need for targeted public health interventions in the Southern region, focusing on mitigating regional risk factors and streamlining referral flows within the Sistema Único de Saúde (SUS) to improve survivability.