[Epidemiology of nasal and paranasal sinus cancer in Tunisia].
OBJECTIVE
To report the epidemiological and clinical features of nasal and paranasal sinus cancers collected during a period of 35 years at the Salah Azaiez Institute of Tunis.


METHODS
This retrospective study concerned patients with histologically confirmed nasal and paranasal sinus cancers treated at our institute from 1969 to 2004. We collected the following data: age, sex, residence (rural or urban), site, occupation and professional exposure, histological type and tumor extension.


RESULTS
We identified 265 cases (163 M; 102 F; Sex-ratio=1.65) with a mean age of 60 years (3 months - 91 years). Epidermoid carcinoma (47%) and adenocarcinoma (16%) predominated followed by sarcoma (14%) and melanoma (6%). We observed only 2 cases (0.7%) of ethmoidal adenocarcinoma.


CONCLUSIONS
Nasal and paranasal cancers in Tunisia are linked more to chronic rhino-sinusal inflammation than professional exposition (wood).
Boussen
H
H
Service de Carcinologie Médicale, Institut Salah Azaiez, boulevard du 9 avril, 1006 Tunis, Tunisie. sarroura2000@yahoo.fr
Khedim
A
A
Touati
S
S
Ben Rejeb
I
I
Zainine
R
R
Gritli
S
S
Gammoudi
A
A
Benna
F
F
Ladgham
A
A
D000293:Adolescent; D000328:Adult; D000368:Aged; D000369:Aged, 80 and over; D002648:Child; D002675:Child, Preschool; D005260:Female; D006801:Humans; D015994:Incidence; D007223:Infant; D008297:Male; D008875:Middle Aged; D009669:Nose Neoplasms / Q000453:epidemiology*; D010255:Paranasal Sinus Neoplasms / Q000453:epidemiology*; D015995:Prevalence; D012189:Retrospective Studies; D014416:Tunisia / Q000453:epidemiology