Bronchial carcinoma in Iraq

ABSTRACT

For several decades the problem of bronchogenic carcinoma has been underestimated in the developing world. This situation is, however, gradually changing and in some countries the true size of the problem became obvious. In Iraq bronchogenic carcinoma has peen increasing with alarming frequency, gaining the unenviable reputation of being the commonest malignant tumor in men, and the ninth most common tumor in women. For this reason a detailed study of 750 patients from Iraq is presented and the findings revealed that the peak incidence lies between the ages of 50 and 70 years with a male to female ratio of 4.4 1. In male it is higher among cigarette smokers [83.9%]. 38% of the patients presented with metastatic symptoms. Thoracotomy was possible in only 146 patients [19.4%], and resection was accomplished in 104 patients [71.3%]. This is a low over all exploration and resection rates than those of Western countries. Factors responsible for these low rates are identified and analyzed, and problems pertaining to management are discussed