Incidence of mesothelioma in Trinidad and Tobago during the period 2009–2014 and the demographic, aetiologic and pathological characteristics of each case

ABSTRACT

OBJECTIVE: To determine the incidence of mesothelioma between 2009 and 2014 and the aetiologic, pathologic and demographic characteristics of each case, and its comparisonto the incidence of mesothelioma in the years prior, to determine any changing trends and common features of mesothelioma within Trinidad and Tobago. SUBJECTS AND METHODS: This study is a retrospective case series study that utilized existing patient records from the Cancer Registry, Death Registry and Chest Unit of the Eric Williams Medical Sciences Complex, Death Registry of San Fernando General Hospital, Death Registry of Port-of-Spain General Hospital, Death Registry of Sangre Grande Hospital and the records of pathologists, private physicians and private hospitals. The data were submitted for analysis using the Statistical Programme for Social Sciences (SPSS). RESULTS: Results from this study show that the incidence of mesothelioma between 1995 and 2007 was 0.891 per million per annum and between 2009 and 2014, it was 1.004 per million per annum. Between 1995 and 2007, mesothelioma was far more common in patients of African descent, was most commonly localized to the pleura, was more common in males and most common in the 45–54-year age group. Between 2009 and 2014, it was more common in females and was evenly distributed amongst all age groups. CONCLUSION: The incidence of mesothelioma in 2009–2014 of 1.004 per million per annum is higher than the incidence in 1995–2007 of 0.891 per million per annum. Demographic information about mesothelioma showed a higher number of cases in African descents, higher numberof female cases in 2009–2014 and a remarkably low survival time after diagnosis