Vaginal cancer - incidence statistics

A diagram of the site of the vagina is shown in Figure 1.1.

Figure 1.1: A diagram of the location of the vagina

Download this image (64KB)

Cancer of the vagina is rare with 258 new cases diagnosed in 2008. (Table 1.1). 1-4 This gives a European age-standardised incidence rate for vaginal cancer of 0.6 per 100,000 female population. 1-4

Table 1.1: Vaginal cancer (C52), Number of New Cases, Crude and European Age-Standardised (AS) Incidence Rates per 100,000 Population, UK, 2008

Download this table (39KB)

*95% LCL and 95% UCL are the 95% lower and upper confidence limits around the AS Rate

Cancer of the vagina accounts for less than 1% of all cancers diagnosed in females (excluding non-melanoma skin cancer NMSC) and less than 2% of gynaecological cancers in the UK. It has been estimated that the lifetime risk of developing vaginal cancer is around 1 in 1,300 for women in the UK. This was done for 2006-2008 using the AMP method.5

Section updated 17/08/11

The incidence of vaginal cancer increases with age. Rates are less than 0.5 per 100,000 females under 45, increase from 0.7 per 100,000 for women aged 45-49 to 1.4 per 100,000 for women aged 60-64, around 2 per 100,000 for women aged 65-74, and rising from 2.5 per 100,000 for women aged 75-79 to more than 4 per 100,000 women aged 85 and over (Figure 1.2). 1-4

Figure 1.2: Vaginal Cancer (C52), Average Number of New Cases per Year and Age-Specific Incidence Rates, UK, 2006-2008

Download this chart (60KB)

Section updated 17/08/11

Figure 1.3 shows the trends in vaginal cancer incidence and mortality for Great Britain. The age-standardised incidence rate of vaginal cancer has remained relatively stable in Britain over the last 25 years at around 0.6 per 100,000 females. Over the same period the mortality rate has decreased from 0.3 to 0.1 per 100,000 females.1-3

Figure 1.3: Vaginal Cancer (C52), European Age-Standardised Incidence and Mortality Rates, Great Britain, 1975-2008

Download this chart (65KB)

Figure 1.4 shows the incidence trend for vaginal cancer in the UK.1-4

Figure 1.4: Vaginal Cancer (C52), European Age-Standardised Incidence Rates, UK, 1993-2008

Download this chart (52KB)

Section updated 17/08/11

Several case-control studies have reported an increased risk of vaginal cancer associated with lower socio-economic status and fewer years of education. 6

Section updated 31/12/09

More than 90% of primary tumours in the vagina are carcinomas, and, of these, almost 80% are squamous cell carcinoma and about 14% are adenocarcinomas. 7,8 Adenocarcinomas are more common in childhood and early adulthood, accounting for the vast majority of carcinomas diagnosed in women under 20. 7,8 A small proportion of adenocarcinomas are clear cell carcinomas arising in women exposed to diethylstilboestrol (DES) in utero (see Risk factors). The highest incidence of clear cell carcinoma arises in young women in their late teens and early 20s. 9 Melanomas and sarcomas account for about 7% of primary vaginal tumours. 7

Section updated 31/12/09

A substantial proportion of vaginal invasive tumours are found with adjacent evidence of pre-cancers, known collectively as vaginal intraepithelial neoplasia (VAIN).

VAIN - caused by infection with HPV - is most frequently found in the upper third of the vagina, often with concomitant vulval or cervical lesions.10

Section updated 17/08/11