title: Retrospective appraisal of cancer patients from Vientiane Capital City, Lao People's Democratic Republic (PDR), seeking treatment in Thailand.
abstract: BACKGROUND
  Recent estimates suggest that in the Lao People's Democratic Republic (Lao PDR) the burden of cancer in terms of DALYs lost is amongst the highest in South East Asia. As such, increasingly cancer is becoming an important public health concern in the country. Lao PDR however has no population-based cancer registry and only one hospital-based registry. Cancer treatment within the country is extremely limited. Patients who can, may travel to neighboring countries for treatment, but little information about this is available in the country. The aim of this study was to estimate some of the otherwise largely unknown parameters of the cancer burden in Lao PDR.
  
  
  METHODS
  This is a retrospective, descriptive study based on the records of 847 Lao cancer cases treated with surgery, radiation and chemotherapy at Srinagarind Hospital, Khon Kaen University, in Thailand between 1988 and 2010.
  
  
  RESULTS
  The annual rate of registration of Lao cancer cases fluctuated, but showed an increasing trend. Most cancers were diagnosed by histology (65.2%), and a combination of endoscopy and radiology (15.6%). In most cases (70.2%) the stage of cancer at diagnosis could not be determined. In those whose stage could be identified, 54.0% were at the final stage (Stage IV). Among males, the commonest cancer sites were the liver (16.1%), blood (12.3%) and nasopharynx (10.6%). Those in female patients were the cervix (22.2%), breast (14.6%) and blood (8.1%).
  
  
  CONCLUSIONS
  This study indicates that despite some fluctuations, the number of Lao cancer patients presenting at Srinagarind Hospital, Khon Kaen, gradually increased between 1988 and 2010. The unfavorable pattern of late-stage cancer diagnosis among male and female patients suggests a need for cancer control interventions and the establishment of cancer registration and treatment facilities within Lao PDR.
authors.affiliation: Department of Epidemiology, Faculty of Public Health, Khon Kaen University, Khon Kaen, Thailand E-mail : surapon@kku.ac.th.
authors.forename: Kongmany
authors.initials: K
authors.lastname: Chaleunvong
authors.forename: Supot
authors.initials: S
authors.lastname: Kamsa-Ard
authors.forename: Krittika
authors.initials: K
authors.lastname: Suwanrungruang
authors.forename: Surapon
authors.initials: S
authors.lastname: Wiangnon
authors.forename: Vanphanom
authors.initials: V
authors.lastname: Sychareun
authors.forename: Phetsamone
authors.initials: P
authors.lastname: Alounlangsy
authors.forename: Jo
authors.initials: J
authors.lastname: Durham
authors.forename: Supannee
authors.initials: S
authors.lastname: Promthet
mesh_terms: D000293:Adolescent; D000328:Adult; D000368:Aged; D000369:Aged, 80 and over; D002648:Child; D002675:Child, Preschool; D005260:Female; D005500:Follow-Up Studies; D006801:Humans; D007223:Infant; D007812:Laos / Q000208:ethnology; D008297:Male; D057193:Medical Tourism; D008875:Middle Aged; D009367:Neoplasm Staging; D009369:Neoplasms / Q000208:ethnology / Q000473:pathology / Q000628:therapy*; D011379:Prognosis; D011634:Public Health / Q000639:trends*; D012189:Retrospective Studies; D013785:Thailand / Q000453:epidemiology; D055815:Young Adult