Delayed diagnosis of pancreatic cancer reported as more common in a population of North African young adults.
BACKGROUND
Pancreatic cancer is one of the most challenging tumor entities worldwide, characterized as a highly aggressive disease with dismal overall prognosis and an incidence rate equaling mortality rate.


OBJECTIVE
In order to have an update about pancreatic cancer incidence and evolution in North Africa, we conducted an epidemiological analytical retrospective study at the level of three Algerian regions: Sidi-bel-Abbes, Oran and Tlemcen along the last eight years [2006-2013].


METHODS
We performed a retrospective hospital-based study in which we analyzed the records of 160 pancreatic cancer patients registered, evaluated and treated in a Northern African region; at the level of hospital centers of the three western Algerian regions from 2006 to 2013.


RESULTS
Along the period of study, 160 patients were diagnosed with pancreatic cancer; with a mean age of 66.2 years, and a sex ratio of 1.65; other parameters such as a medical history smoking and alcoholism history, tumor site; histological type as well as the stage of diagnosis were also enrolled in the study. Our statistical analyses reported a very significant correlation between patients who belonged to the age group of 21-40 years and the advanced stage of diagnosis (basing on TNM classification) with P=0.02.


CONCLUSIONS
Pancreatic cancer is increasingly diagnosed in young adults at an advanced stage in North African regions.
1 Department of Biology, Djillali Liabes University, Sidi bel Abbes, Algeria ; 2 Military Hospital of Oran (HMRUO), Oran, Algeria.
Feriel
F
Sellam
1 Department of Biology, Djillali Liabes University, Sidi bel Abbes, Algeria ; 2 Military Hospital of Oran (HMRUO), Oran, Algeria.
Noria
N
Harir
1 Department of Biology, Djillali Liabes University, Sidi bel Abbes, Algeria ; 2 Military Hospital of Oran (HMRUO), Oran, Algeria.
Méghit B
MB
Khaled
1 Department of Biology, Djillali Liabes University, Sidi bel Abbes, Algeria ; 2 Military Hospital of Oran (HMRUO), Oran, Algeria.
Nesrine M
NM
Mrabent
1 Department of Biology, Djillali Liabes University, Sidi bel Abbes, Algeria ; 2 Military Hospital of Oran (HMRUO), Oran, Algeria.
Rachida
R
Salah
1 Department of Biology, Djillali Liabes University, Sidi bel Abbes, Algeria ; 2 Military Hospital of Oran (HMRUO), Oran, Algeria.
Arslane
A
Benchouk
1 Department of Biology, Djillali Liabes University, Sidi bel Abbes, Algeria ; 2 Military Hospital of Oran (HMRUO), Oran, Algeria.
Mustapha
M
Diaf
North Africa; Pancreatic cancer; delayed diagnosis; young adults