Open AccessOvarian Cancer in Morocco: Diagnosis and Outcome
Author(s) -
A. Haimer,
Fawzia Habib,
Abdelmajid Soulaymani,
A. Mokhtari,
Hinde Hami
Publication year - 2018
Publication title -
journal of global oncology
Language(s) - English
Resource type - Journals
SCImago Journal Rank - 1.002
H-Index - 17
ISSN - 2378-9506
DOI - 10.1200/jgo.18.11800
Subject(s) - medicine , ovarian cancer , cancer , disease , cervical cancer , cause of death , breast cancer , incidence (geometry) , gynecology , population , oncology , physics , environmental health , optics
Background: Ovarian cancer is the fifth most common cancer and the fourth leading cause of cancer death among women in northern Africa, with an estimated 5050 new cancer cases and 3509 deaths from cancer in 2012 ( GLOBOCAN 2012 ). Aim: This study was conducted to determine the epidemiologic characteristics of ovarian cancer in Morocco. Methods: This is a descriptive retrospective study of ovarian cancer cases, diagnosed and treated at Al Azhar Oncology Center in Rabat between 2005 and 2015. Results: There were 164 new cases of ovarian cancer diagnosed at Al Azhar Oncology Center, accounting for 3.5% of all cancers affecting women reported during 2005-2015. During this period, ovarian cancer was the third most common cancer and the third leading cause of cancer death after breast and cervical cancer among women. The average age at diagnosis of ovarian cancer was 52.5 ± 13.3 years (range 18-81 years). The risk of developing the disease is associated with age, 91.1% of cases were diagnosed in women aged 35 years and older, with 70.2% of new ovarian cancer cases occurring among those aged 35-64 years. A 43-year-old woman was diagnosed with metastatic disease. Among all detected cases, 18 (11%) died during the study period, accounting for 6.6% of all female cancer deaths. Conclusion: Ovarian cancer is a preventable disease, and a significant decrease in incidence and mortality can be expected as a result of population-based screening programs, which rely on regular preventive examinations to search for precancerous changes and to prevent the development of malignant tumors.