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Ovarian and Peritoneal Cancer

Ovarian and Peritoneal Cancer

12 January 2024

Introduction

Ovarian and peritoneal cancer includes cancers of ovaries, fallopian tubes and peritoneum (excluding sarcomas). It was the sixth commonest cancer among females in Hong Kong and accounted for 3.4% of all new cancer cases in females in 2021.

Incidence

In 2021, 654 new cases of ovarian and peritoneal cancer were diagnosed. The crude incidence rate of ovarian and peritoneal cancer was 16.2 per 100 000 female population. The age-standardised incidence rate* of ovarian and peritoneal cancer was 10.5 per 100 000 standard population.

Number of new cases and crude incidence rate of ovarian and peritoneal cancer, 1983-2000 (View)

Number of new cases and crude incidence rate of ovarian and peritoneal cancer, 2001-2021 (View)

Mortality

Ovarian and peritoneal cancer was the seventh leading cause of female cancer deaths in Hong Kong. In 2022, a total of 242 women died from this cancer, accounting for 3.8% of female cancer deaths. The crude death rate of ovarian and peritoneal cancer was 6.1 per 100 000 female population. The age-standardised death rate* of ovarian and peritoneal cancer was 3.1 per 100 000 standard population. 

Number of registered deaths and crude death rate of ovarian and peritoneal cancer, 1981-2000 (View)

Number of registered deaths and crude death rate of ovarian and peritoneal cancer, 2001-2022 (View)

Trends of incidence and mortality

The age-standardised incidence rate of ovarian and peritoneal cancer had an upward trend over the past 39 years (average annual percentage change (AAPC)# between 1983 and 2021: 0.9%) and over the past 10 years (AAPC between 2012 and 2021: 0.9%).

The age-standardised death rate of ovarian and peritoneal cancer had no significant trend over the past 42 years, while an upward trend was observed over the past 10 years (AAPC between 2013 and 2022: 1.1%).

Age-standardised incidence and death rates of ovarian and peritoneal cancer, 1981-2022

Age-standardised incidence and death rates of ovarian and peritoneal cancer, 1981-2022

Notes: * Age-standardised 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.

Incidence figures from 2019 onwards and mortality figures from 2020 onwards include ovarian and peritoneal cancer (C48.1, C48.2, C48.8, C56 and C57.0 in ICD-10).  Incidence figures from 2001 to 2018 and mortality figures from 2001 to 2019 only include ovarian cancer (C56 in ICD-10) while figures of other previous years include ovarian and other uterine adnexal cancers (183 in ICD-9).  From 2020, borderline ovarian tumour is no longer included in the number of new cases registered.  Caution is required when comparing the figures across years.

Sources:   Census and Statistics Department
Department of Health
Hong Kong Cancer Registry, Hospital Authority



For more information about cancer statistics in Hong Kong, please visit the website of the Hong Kong Cancer Registry.

For health information relating to cancer, please visit the Cancer Online Resource Hub.