This is the first nationwide population-based study to assess educational and regional differences in the incidence and survival of primary central nervous system lymphoma (PCNSL) in Finland. Data were extracted from the Finnish Cancer Registry based on the histological diagnosis and tumor location for cases of large B-cell lymphoma (LBCL) between 2007 and 2022. Data were divided into five healthcare regions of the Finnish healthcare system, which included 623 PCNSL patients (48% female), 27% of whom had higher education, 34% had secondary education, and 39% had primary or unknown education. The incidence rates of PCNSL and LBCL were calculated and the proportion of PCNSL incidence to LBCL incidence was estimated. The age-standardized relative survival rates were calculated within subgroups defined by educational level and healthcare region. The annual proportion of PCNSL incidence to LBCL incidence remained stable at 6.5% between periods 2007–2014 and 2015–2022 in Finland ( p = 0.324). The age-adjusted incidence rate standardized by the World Health Organization World Standard Population (WHO WSP 2000–2025) was 0.54/100,000 person-years. The incidence rates did not differ between healthcare regions ( p = 0.097) or between groups defined by educational level ( p = 0.725). From 2007 to 2022, the 2-year and 5-year age-adjusted relative survival rates were 38% and 30%, respectively. In between healthcare regions, the 2-year age-adjusted relative survival rate varied between 25% and 56%, and the 5-year age-adjusted relative survival rate between 16% and 45% ( p < 0.001). No statistically significant difference in survival rates was observed according to the educational level ( p = 0.282). The incidence of PCNSL in Finland remains one of the highest observed in population-based studies. However, the proportion of PCNSL incidence to LBCL incidence remained stable between periods 2007–2014 and 2015–2022. The incidence rates did not differ between educational levels or healthcare regions. A minor trend towards improved survival was observed among those with a higher educational level. Remarkable differences were observed in survival after diagnosis of PCNSL according to patients’ healthcare regions.
Ojala et al. (Sat,) studied this question.