[Endometrial carcinomas in Gabon. A study of 34 cases in 11 years: 1988-1998]

The aim of this retrospective study was to determine the importance of endometrium cancer in Gabon over an eleven-year period (1988-1998). We studied 34 cases from the register of cancers at the Faculty of Medicine in Libreville. The incidence of endometrium cancers was 5.3%. The patients came from areas with medical care facilities. They were all mature women with a mean age of 58.8 years (range: 34 to 80 years). Most of these women were menopausal (88. 24%). Uterine bleeding was the main symptom (100% of cases). Histologically, endometrium adenocarcinomas (79.41%) were the most frequently observed. The setting up of medical facilities in rural areas and efforts to provide the population with information concerning these cancers may affect the incidence and prognosis of endometrium cancer in Gabon.