title: Epidemiologic and socioeconomic status of bladder cancer in Mazandaran Province, northern Iran.
abstract: BACKGROUND
  Bladder cancer is one the most common malignancies of the genitourinary tract. The present study aimed to assess the epidemiology, of bladder cancer in Mazandaran, a large province in northern Iran as high-incidence cancer area, during a 2-year period.
  
  
  METHODS
  The data for this study were obtained from the population-based cancer registry of the Vice-Chancellory for Health Affairs of Mazandaran University of Medical Sciences and Mazandaran hospitals between March 1, 2010 and March 1, 2011. Demographic data, including sex, age, residency and symptoms were investigated through careful review of medical records. Using a questionnaire protocol, several variables were assessed for these cases such as smoking, history of opium, vegetable consumption habits, and history of other cancers.
  
  
  RESULTS
  A total of 112 cases were analyzed, 98 (87.5%) in men and 14 (12.5%) in women (mean age of 68.0 ± 14.6 years). Urban and rural residence were 60.7% and 39.3%. Tobacco and opium use were found in 45.5% and 21.4% of patients, respectively. Approximately 60% consumed vegetables an average of fewer than one time per day. Hematuria was the first symptom in these cases which were mainly diagnosed as having bladder cancer by ultrasonography.
  
  
  CONCLUSIONS
  The results showed that bladder cancer tends to be found in the elderly and the male to female ratio is high. Macroscopic hematuria is a very important symptom for indicating probably urothelial tumor that should be followed up patients with transabdominal ultrasonography as a routine modality.
authors.affiliation: Deputy of Health Affairs, Mazandaran University of Medical Sciences, Sari, Iran.
authors.forename: Mohammad
authors.initials: M
authors.lastname: Ahmadi
authors.forename: Hossein
authors.initials: H
authors.lastname: Ranjbaran
authors.forename: Marzeih Momeninejad
authors.initials: MM
authors.lastname: Amiri
authors.forename: Jamshid
authors.initials: J
authors.lastname: Nozari
authors.forename: Mohammad Reza
authors.initials: MR
authors.lastname: Mirzajani
authors.forename: Mohammad
authors.initials: M
authors.lastname: Azadbakht
authors.forename: Seyed Jalal
authors.initials: SJ
authors.lastname: Hosseinimehr
mesh_terms: D000328:Adult; D000368:Aged; D000369:Aged, 80 and over; D003430:Cross-Sectional Studies; D005260:Female; D005500:Follow-Up Studies; D006417:Hematuria / Q000453:epidemiology* / Q000209:etiology; D006801:Humans; D015994:Incidence; D007492:Iran / Q000453:epidemiology; D008297:Male; D008875:Middle Aged; D011379:Prognosis; D012042:Registries / Q000706:statistics & numerical data*; D012424:Rural Population; D012907:Smoking; D012923:Social Class; D011795:Surveys and Questionnaires; D001749:Urinary Bladder Neoplasms / Q000150:complications / Q000453:epidemiology*