GYNAECOLOGICAL MALIGNANCIES

Objectives: To determine the frequency of different Gynecological Malignancies and outcome following primary treatment.Study Design: Cross sectional Descriptive Study. Place and Duration of study: In a tertiary care hospital; Bolan Medical ComplexHospital Quetta Baluchistan from Feb 2006 to Nov 2009. Methodology: All the women presenting with genital tract cancer during thestudy period were included. Their age, parity, mode of presentation, anatomic area involved, and investigations performed were noted.Stage of disease (according to FIGO staging), surgical procedures performed, and operative finding were recorded. Specimens weresubjected to histopathological examination. Post operative chemo or radiotherapy was given according to stage and histopathologyreports. Patients were followed up by telephonic appointments for growth recurrence, disease free interval and mortality. Follow uprecords were also obtained from Oncology Department & CINAR (Cancer Institute of Nuclear Medicine and Radiotherapy) HospitalQuetta. Results: Amongst the 93 cases of gynecological cancer ovarian cancer was the commonest (45%), cervical and uterine cancerswere equal in frequency (17.2%), and Choriocarcinoma was seen in (9.3%) cases while vaginal cancer was rarest (1.83%). Epithelialovarian tumors were the commonest (71%) and 67% patients presented in stage III &IV. During the median follow up period of 25 months44% patients are alive without recurrence. 27% lost to follow up, 18% developed recurrence, 11% died with disease, 50% cancer deathswere due to ovarian cancer. Conclusions: Ovarian cancer is the commonest genital tract cancer and accounted for half of all genital tractcancer deaths. Early diagnosis and treatment can improve prognosis. Well established screening program and public awareness isimportant for early diagnosis and to decrease mortality.