Long-term trends in pheochromocytoma in the United States, 1975–2022: A SEER-based study.

Abstract

e22593 Background: Pheochromocytoma is a rare neuroendocrine tumor, and population-level data describing long-term temporal trends are limited. Evaluating national patterns over time may improve epidemiologic understanding and clinical awareness. Methods: We performed a retrospective analysis of pheochromocytoma cases recorded in the Surveillance, Epidemiology, and End Results (SEER) database from 1975 through 2022. Annual case counts were examined overall and by race (White, Black, Other, and Unknown). Temporal trends were assessed using Poisson regression, and annual percent change (APC) was calculated to quantify changes over time. Results: A total of 408 pheochromocytoma cases were identified during the study period. Overall case counts increased significantly over time, with Poisson regression demonstrating a consistent upward trend corresponding to an APC of 5.8% per year (p < 0.001). White individuals accounted for the majority of reported cases, while Black and other racial groups had significantly lower case counts compared with the reference population. Visual assessment of decade-level trends suggested a gradual increase from 1975 through approximately 2010, followed by a sharper rise in more recent years. Conclusions: Pheochromocytoma case counts in the United States have increased substantially over the past five decades based on SEER data. These findings suggest evolving epidemiologic patterns in this rare tumor and emphasize the importance of continued surveillance. Observed trends should be interpreted in the context of potential changes in diagnostic practices, imaging utilization, and cancer registry reporting over time.