Prostate cancer incidence rates have evidenced a substantial increase in Iraq over the past sixteen years. Geographic variation of prostate cancer in Iraq has not been explored. We examine the geographic incidence patterns of prostate cancer in Iraq using the global index of spatial autocorrelation, Getis-Ord Gi* and Anselin Local Moran’s to detect hotspots, coldspots, and spatial outliers of prostate cancer rates. We calculated the age-adjusted incidence rates (AAIRs) according to district level for three periods (2000-2004, 2005-2009, and 2010-2015). Disease maps were produced to explore whether prostate cancer incidence clusters by district, and where hotspots and coldspots occur. Results highlight several districts of Iraq where the burden of prostate cancer incidence is especially high. In 2005-2009, the spatial autocorrelation analysis revealed a prostate cancer incidence hotspot in Al-Rissafa, Al-Manathera, Al-Kufa, Al-Hilla, Al-Hindiya, and Kerbela district. In 2010-2015, hotspots were seen in Al-Mussyab, Al-Hilla, Al-Hindiya, Al-Rissafa, Al-Adhamiya, Al-Sadir, and Daquq district. Examining spatial pattern of prostate cancer AAIRs is critical to government efforts to focus on those regions, and to understanding and targeting prostate cancer

Brain and other CNS cancers have evidenced increase in Iraq over the study period (2000-2015). Spatial variation of brain and CNS cancers in Iraq at the district level has not been explored. This study aimed to explore the spatial patterns of the Age-Standardized Incidence Rates (ASIRs) of brain and CNS cancers throughout Iraq (except Kurdish region) during 2000-2015 using spatial autocorrelation analyses. Data were obtained from the Iraqi Cancer Registry. The ASIRs were calculated according to geographical region (provinces and districts) for each period (2000-2004, 2005- 2009, and 2010-2015). spatial statistical tools were employed to evaluate hotspots, cold spots, spatial clustering and outliers for each period. Results showed a spatial correlation with hotspots, cold spots, and detecting spatial outliers. This study identified 7 districts as high-risk areas for brain and CNS cancers during 2010-2015, including Al-Sadir, Al-Kadhimiyah, Adhamia, Al-Karkh, Al-Rissafa, and Al-Madain districts in Baghdad province) and southern region (Abu-Al-Khaseeb district in Al-Basrah provinces, and we have evidenced an increase of brain and CNS cancers incidence rates during 2010-2015. The government efforts should focus on those regions, and the factors related to the spatial pattern of the brain and CNS cancers incidence in Iraq should be investigated.