Schistosomiasis and bladder carcinoma in Natal

Area of Science:

• Urology
• Oncology
• Pathology

Background:

• Bladder cancer is a significant health concern globally.
• Schistosomiasis is endemic in certain regions and has been linked to bladder pathology.
• Understanding the epidemiological and etiological factors of bladder cancer is crucial for public health.

Purpose of the Study:

• To investigate the epidemiological characteristics of primary malignant bladder tumors in males.
• To determine the association between histological subtypes, race, age, and schistosomal infection in bladder cancer patients.

Main Methods:

• Retrospective analysis of 184 biopsy reports of primary malignant bladder tumors in males.
• Data collected included patient age, race, tumor histology, and presence of schistosomal infection.
• Statistical analysis was performed to assess associations between variables.

Main Results:

• Squamous cell carcinoma was the predominant histological type (103 cases), followed by transitional cell carcinoma (62 cases).
• Black patients (153) showed a higher prevalence of squamous cell carcinoma (61.4%) compared to Indian patients (31) (29%) (P<0.01).
• Schistosomiasis prevalence was 40.8% overall, higher in Black patients (44.4%) than Indian patients (22.6%), and strongly associated with squamous cell carcinoma (61%) (P<0.0001).

Conclusions:

• Race significantly influences bladder cancer histology and age of onset, with Black males presenting with squamous cell carcinoma at a younger age.
• Schistosomiasis is a major contributing factor to squamous cell carcinoma of the bladder in this population.
• Public health strategies should address schistosomiasis control to reduce bladder cancer incidence.