Epidemiological, clinical and anatomopathological aspects of upper aerodigestive tract cancers at regional military hospital number 2

Abstract

Introduction: Cancers of the upper aerodigestive tract (UADT) are malignant tumors arising in the upper part of the digestive and respiratory systems. Their incidence accounting for 5 to 8% of cancers in the Americas and around 6% of cancers in Africa. The aim of this study was to contribute to a better understanding of these destructive cancers in Cameroon.

Materials and methods: We conducted a descriptive study with retrospective data collection, carried out in the ENT department of the Number 2 Military Regional Hospital in Douala (HMR2) over a period of 06 years from 2018 to 2024. Epidemiological, clinical and anatomopathological aspects were studied.

Results: We identified 55 cases of head and neck cancer. These accounted for 82.08% of ENT and CCF cancers, with a hospital prevalence of 0.54%. The average age of patients was 53 ± 14.49. We observed a male predominance with a sex ratio of 1.89. Alcohol and tobacco abuse were the main risk factors encountered, accounting for 87.3% and 40% of cases, respectively. The pharynx was the most common site (34.8%), predominantly in the nasopharynx (57.9%), followed by the nasosinus cavities (25.5%). Carcinomas were by far the main histological type, found in 85.5% of cases, the majority of which were squamous cell carcinomas (83%).

Conclusion: Upper aerodigestive tract cancers occur in middle-aged men. Alcohol and tobacco use are the main risk factors and squamous cell carcinomas remain the main histological type encountered.