Epidemiological and Histological Aspects of Women Genital Cancers in Côte d'Ivoire

Genital cancers in women play an important role in cancer pathology in the developing countries. Objectives: This study aimed at clarifying the epidemiological and histopathological aspects of woman genital cancers in C?te d’Ivoire. Materials and Methods: This was a retrospective and descriptive study conducted in the anatomical pathology laboratories of the university hospitals in Abidjan. The study was carried out over a period of twenty-four years (1984-2007). The variables studied were: frequency, age, histological type and prognosis. Results: Genital cancers in women accounted for 41.28% (n = 2491) of cancer in women and 21% of cancers. The average age of patients was 46.65 years (range 2 - 88 years). The cervix (82.85%) was the main location followed by the ovary (8.6%). Histologically, carcinomas (92.93%) were the most common types of sarcomas. Cervical cancers were diagnosed at an average age of 47.36 years (range 2 to 88 years). Carcinomas were the predominant histological type (92.88%) with 57.4% (n = 450) diagnosed at pT2N0M0 stage. The average age of patients bearing ovarian cancer was 39.13 years (range 8 to 82 years).Common malignant epithelial tumours were the most common histological type (57.48%) (n = 123) followed by non-Hodgkin lymphoma (14.95%). Conclusion: Genital cancers in women are common and poorly prognosed in Cote d’Ivoire. The adoption of a policy of routine screening is needed to improve the prognosis of these tumours.