Histological pattern of gynecological cancers

The information on cancer incidence is an important basis to prioritize the preventive policy of a country. Since there are only limited reports on the gynecological cancers in Nepal, the present study was undertaken to further elucidate the incidences of different gynecological cancers by age, site and histological subtype in a large series.

A retrospective analysis was performed in histopathologically proven gynecological malignancies by retrieving data from the archives of the Department of Pathology, BP Koirala Memorial Cancer Hospital between July 1999 and April 2004.

Out of total 1517 cases of gynecological cancers diagnosed, 1293 cases (85.23%) were cervical, 97 (6.39%) ovarian, 48 (3.16%) vulval, 41 (2.7%) vaginal, 32 (2.11%) endometrial cancers as well as 5 (0.33%) choriocarcinoma and 1 (0.07%) fallopian tube cancer. Squamous cell carcinoma was the commonest histologic type in cervical, vaginal and vulval cancers whereas serous adenocarcinoma and endometrioid adenocarcinoma were commonest histological types in the ovary and endometrium respectively. Gynecological cancers were most common in age between 40 and 60 years with mean age 45 years.

Cervical cancer is the most frequent gynecological malignancy in Nepal. Since it is a preventable disease, national screening and awareness programs are necessary to reduce the burden of the cancer and to improve the health of women in Nepal.