Incidence and survival of chronic myelomonocytic leukemia in Girona (Spain): a population-based study, 1993-2007

Chronic myelomonocytic leukemia is a very rare blood cancer observed mostly in the elderly. Here we report the incidence trends and survival of patients with chronic myelomonocytic leukemia over a 15-year period (1993-2007). Cases were provided by the population-based Girona Cancer Registry. The crude incidence rate was 0.72/100,000 inhabitants/year. No statistically significant increase in trends was detected over the 15 years. Median overall survival was 28 months although survival markedly decreased with advancing age. The 5-years observed and relative survivals were 20% and 29%, respectively. This is the first population-based study that reports the incidence and survival of chronic myelomonocytic leukemia in Spain.