Plasma cell myeloma (also called multiple myeloma), solitary plasmacytoma, and extramedullary plasmacytoma are primarily diseases of the elderly. Evidence suggests an association between excess body weight and multiple myeloma. Few population-based studies have examined incidence and mortality of each site in one study. We analyzed incidence and death rates by site (solitary plasmacytoma, extramedullary plasmacytoma, and multiple myeloma) by gender, age, race/ethnicity, and rural-urban status among adult males and females (aged 20 years or older) in the United States during 2003-2016. Trends were characterized as average annual percentage change (AAPC) in rates. During 2003-2016, overall incidence rates among adults were 0.45 for solitary plasmacytoma, 0.09 for extramedullary plasmacytoma, and 8.47 for multiple myeloma per 100,000 persons. Incidence rates for multiple myeloma increased during 2003-2016 among non-Hispanic whites (AAPC = 1.78%) and non-Hispanic blacks (2.98%) 20-49 years of age; non-Hispanic whites (1.17%) and non-Hispanic blacks (1.24%) 50-59 years of age; and whites non-Hispanic (0.91%), and non-Hispanic blacks (0.96%). During 2003-2016 overall myeloma (extramedullary plasmacytoma and multiple myeloma) death rates among adults was 4.77 per 100,00 persons. Myeloma death rates decreased during 2003-2016 among non-Hispanic white (AAPC = -1.23%) and Hispanic (-1.34%) women; and non-Hispanic white (-0.74%), non-Hispanic American Indian/Alaska Native (-3.05%) men. The US population is projected to become older and will have a larger proportion of persons who have had an earlier and longer exposure to excess body weight. The potential impact of these population changes on myeloma incidence and mortality can be monitored with high-quality cancer surveillance data.
Keywords: cancer surveillance; epidemiology; myeloma.
Published 2020. This article is a U.S. Government work and is in the public domain in the USA. Cancer Medicine published by John Wiley & Sons Ltd.