Cancer Science & Therapy

Clinical Profile and Patterns of Malignant Tumors at Debre Tabor General Hospital, North Central Ethiopia: A Three Years Retrospective Study

Abstract

Aragaw Tesfaw, Maru Mekie, Alehegn Aderaw, Tesfaneh Shimeles and Wubet Taklual

Background: Cancer is now becoming an emerging public health problem in developing countries including Ethiopia. Majority (70%) of deaths from cancer occur in low- and middle-income countries due advanced stage presentation, in accessible diagnosis, and treatment. However, little is known about the problem in Ethiopia. Studies related to the area are scarce at all.

Methods: Retrospective cross-sectional study design was conducted from January to April 2018. The medical records of cancer patients diagnosed from January 1, 2016 to December 30, 2018 were reviewed. Information on sociodemographic characteristics, clinical stage at diagnosis and tumor characteristics was taken from the medical records. Descriptive statistics were used to summarize socio-demographic and clinical characteristic of study population. Tables and figures were used to describe the pattern and type of malignant tumors. Data was enetered in Epi info version-7.2 and analysed using Microsoft excel and statistical package for social science (SPSS ) version 23.

Results: A total of 188 cancer patients were included in the study. The mean age of patients at diagnosis were 45.5 ± 13.5years. There was increasing patterns of cancer cases in three years duration. The number of cancer case has increased from 42 in 2016 to 81 in 2016. With regards to case distribution, cervical 58 (30.9%), breast 47(25%), ovarian and colorectal cancer 13(6.9%) accounts the largest proportion of cancer cases. The majority, 179 (95.2%) of patients were women. About 104 (55.3%) of patients were rural residents. Family history of cancer was found on 21 (20.2%) of patients. Stage was determined only for 87 (46.3%) of the patients from which stage I accounts 17 (19.5%), stage II 23 (26.4%), stage III (39.1%) and stage IV accounts 13 (14.9%).

Conclusion and Recommendations: Overall, an increasing pattern of cancer cases were reported over a period of three years. Cancer of the cervix and breast were the commonest cancers observed mainly on the female population. Therefore evidence-based interventions shall be designed to tackle the problem through early prevention, detection and screening services both at primary health care units and hospitals.