Risk factors in bladder cancer of Iraqi patients

ABSTRACT

A total of 135 bladder cancer patients diagnosed during eight monthes at the Medical City Hospital, were studied to determine the pathological subtypes, and the possible risk factors. Squamous cell carcinoma formed 41%, transitional cell carcinoma 47%, and adenocarcinoma formed 9%. Bilharzial ova were detected in tissue section of 32% of the cases [43 patients]. The histological analysis of bladder cancer associated with bilhariasis showed significantly different pattern i.e. squamous cell carcinoma forms 72%, papillary transitional cell carcinoma 2.8% non papillary transitional cell 9.3%, and adenocarcinoma forms 16.3%.Regarding the geographical distribution of various histological types; the squamous cell carcinoma predominated in patients coming from the middle and south of the country [44% and 45% respectively], while being rare in the north [8.3%]. This distribution is similar to endemicity pattern of bilhariziasis in Iraqi. The occupational hazard detected was peasantry. Smoking was significantly more common in bladder cancer not associated with bilhariziasis, as well as in bladder patients with papillary transitional cell carcinoma. Past history of recurrent urinary tract infection was common in bladder cancer associated with schistosmiasis [69%], while those associated with past history of urolithiasis were observed in only 29%