A record based retrospective analysis of cancer burden at a tertiary care hospital in south India

Abstract

Background: Cancer pattern varies across geographical areas, depending on the race, lifestyle, diet, environment and genetics govern relative incidence. Analysis of cancer pattern is an important basis for determining the priorities of cancer control in any population group. Objectives: Objectives of the study is to conduct a record based retrospective analysis to assess the leading sites and to analyse the patterns of cancer by age, gender, site and histopathological type that were reported in the tertiary care centre of this area. Methods: A retrospective analysis was done from the pathology section records for a period of four years at a tertiary care hospital attached with medical college. The collected data was segregated and represented in tables. Results: Out of 243 cancer diagnosed cases, the leading site of cancers was head and neck in males, whereas in females, the most common site involved being breast followed by cervix. In total cancer cases reported, the most common histopathological type of cancer diagnosed was squamous cell carcinoma followed by infiltrating duct cell carcinoma of breast. Conclusion: Based on our study analysis, the most common site of cancer reported was head and neck, followed by gastrointestinal tract. We conclude that tobacco and alcohol related cancer predominated among all the sites. Greater effort needs to be made to curtail tobacco, smoking and alcohol addiction to bring down the incidence of cancers of organs like head and neck, oesophagus. Screening programmes should be planned for their early detection.