Incidence rate of ovarian cancer in Iran in comparison with developed countries

Background: Ovarian cancer is one of the most common gynecologic malignancies. The present study was designed to compare age-standardized incidence rate (ASR) of ovarian cancer in Iran with that in Australia and some other developed countries.
Materials and Methods: Data from the Cancer Registry Program of Iran, as a base, were compared with the cancer registry reports of surveillance, epidemiology and end results program in the USA, considering the population of the USA in the year 2000 as the standard population.
Results: In all the age groups, ASR of ovarian cancer was much lower in Iran. Overall rates of ovarian cancer in Iran and the USA were 3.9 and 16.2 per 100,000, respectively.
Conclusion: Age-standardized ovarian cancer rate in Iran was much lower in comparison with high incidence areas in the world. Encouraging oral contraceptive use and reduction in fat intake may be effective in decreasing the rate of ovarian cancer or keeping its rate constant in Iran.