title: [Therapeutic management of primary digestive lymphomas at Yaoundé: analysis of a series of 46 cases].
abstract: The aim of this study was to identify the principal deficiencies and difficulties associated with the treatment of primary digestive lymphomas at Yaounde. We analyzed the medical records of 46 patients treated at Yaounde General Hospital over a period of 7 years (January 1989 to December 1996). The study population consisted of 24 men (52%) and 22 women (48%), giving a sex ratio of 1.08. The mean age of the patients was 49 years (range: 18 to 80 years). The treatment of these patients was not always optimal, due largely to socioeconomic and technical factors. We observed cases of very late diagnosis in which the histological data were imprecise or incomplete, in the absence of modern histological techniques. Assessment of the expansion of tumors was frequently inadequate, due to the absence of scanners or the inability to pay for their use. These problems, and the high cost of chemotherapy and radiotherapy, have severely limited the efficacy of treatment, resulting in poorer responses to treatment than reported elsewhere. In conclusion, national solidarity and cooperation at the regional and international levels seem to be necessary in these clinical conditions, to overcome these obstacles and to improve the quality of treatment for patients in general, and for those with primary digestive lymphomas in particular.
authors.affiliation: Service de radiothérapie Hôpital général, BP 5408, Yaoundé, Cameroun.
authors.forename: J
authors.initials: J
authors.lastname: Yomi
authors.forename: L
authors.initials: L
authors.lastname: Djouffo
authors.forename: M B
authors.initials: MB
authors.lastname: Sida
authors.forename: A G
authors.initials: AG
authors.lastname: Juimo
mesh_terms: D000293:Adolescent; D000328:Adult; D000368:Aged; D000971:Antineoplastic Combined Chemotherapy Protocols / Q000627:therapeutic use; D002163:Cameroon; D002430:Cecal Neoplasms / Q000175:diagnosis / Q000532:radiotherapy / Q000628:therapy; D003037:Cobalt Radioisotopes / Q000627:therapeutic use; D003131:Combined Modality Therapy; D003520:Cyclophosphamide / Q000627:therapeutic use; D005069:Evaluation Studies as Topic; D005260:Female; D005770:Gastrointestinal Neoplasms / Q000175:diagnosis / Q000532:radiotherapy / Q000628:therapy*; D006801:Humans; D007078:Ileal Neoplasms / Q000175:diagnosis / Q000532:radiotherapy / Q000628:therapy; D008223:Lymphoma / Q000175:diagnosis / Q000532:radiotherapy / Q000628:therapy*; D008297:Male; D008875:Middle Aged; D011241:Prednisone / Q000627:therapeutic use; D011879:Radiotherapy Dosage; D012004:Rectal Neoplasms / Q000175:diagnosis / Q000532:radiotherapy / Q000628:therapy; D012959:Socioeconomic Factors; D013274:Stomach Neoplasms / Q000175:diagnosis / Q000532:radiotherapy / Q000628:therapy; D014750:Vincristine / Q000627:therapeutic use
chemical_list: D003037:Cobalt Radioisotopes; D014750:Vincristine; D003520:Cyclophosphamide; D011241:Prednisone