Schistosomiasis and bladder carcinoma in southern Iraq

Bladder biopsies from 425 patients in the southern region of Iraq were analysed with special emphasis on the association of schistosomiasis and carcinoma. Histological evidence of schistosomiasis was seen in 27.3% of the carcinomas, 70.1% of which were of squamous-cell type. The main features were compared with those from other countries where Bilharziasis is endemic. It is concluded that the main features resemble previous reports but with a younger age incidence and relative high proportion of carcinomas in females affected by schistosomiasis.