Cervical cancer in Tunisia: an epidemiological, clinical and pathological study.
BACKGROUND
This study was undertaken to determine epidemiological and pathological profile of cervical cancer in Tunisia.


METHODS
Registration and analysis of all cervical cancer newly diagnosed during the year 1994 (year of general census) based on review of all pathology laboratory files in the country with exclusion of previously diagnosed cases according to clinical data.


RESULTS
During the year 1994, 216 new cases were registered among which 195 cases (89.81%) were invasive carcinoma. The standardized incidence (invasive cancer) is 5.91 per 100000 women per year. The average age was 53.7 year. Sixty-three percent cases are diagnosed at an advanced stage (IIB, III, IV FIGO stages). Invasive carcinoma has distributed as follows: 177 cases (91.23%) were squamous invasive carcinoma, 17 cases (8.77%) were invasive adenocarcinoma. In the same year, 21 cases of in situ squamous carcinoma were registered with an average age equal to 44.21 year. Only one case of cervical cancer was a sarcoma (0.52%).


CONCLUSIONS
The incidence of cervical cancer in Tunisia is relatively low in spite of the absence of a screening program. This may be related to monogamy and observance of legal age of marriage. Squamous invasive carcinoma is the most frequent pathological type.


CONCLUSIONS
The incidence of cervical cancer in Tunisia is relatively low in spite of the absence of a screening program.
Maalej
Mongi
M
Department of Radiotherapy, Salah Azaiez Institute, 1006 Bab Saadoun, Tunis, Tunisia.
Mrad
Karima
K
Kochbati
Lotfi
L
Guigua
Anouar
A
Ben Abdallah
Mansour
M
Ben Ayed
Farhat
F
Ben Romdhane
Khaled
K
D000328:Adult; D000368:Aged; D000369:Aged, 80 and over; D002294:Carcinoma, Squamous Cell; D005260:Female; D013509:Gynecologic Surgical Procedures; D006801:Humans; D008875:Middle Aged; D017699:Pelvic Pain; D011878:Radiotherapy; D014416:Tunisia / Q000453:epidemiology; D002583:Uterine Cervical Neoplasms / Q000175:diagnosis / Q000453:epidemiology* / Q000628:therapy; D014592:Uterine Hemorrhage