Abstract 137P
Background
Globally over 2 million new cases of lung cancer are diagnosed annually representing about 11% of all cancers. Among men it is the leading cause of cancer-related deaths in 87 countries and 26 countries for women yet only 1% of these deaths were reported in Africa. In Zimbabwe it accounts for only 3% of cancers in men and 1.6% in women ranking at number 8 and 12 respectively. There is a discrepancy in lung cancer incidence ranking globally and that observed in Zimbabwe and Africa. There is a need to determine the epidemiology and histological classification pattern of primary lung cancer cases in ZImbabwe. Parirenyatwa Group of Hospitals Radiotherapy Centre (RTC) is the largest clinical oncology centre in the country.
Methods
A retrospective descriptive study reviewing medical records of patients who presented with pathologically confirmed primary lung cancer from January 2014 to 31 December 2018 was done.
Results
A total of 73 patients were treated with a median age at diagnosis of 60 years. Men accounted for 58% of all new cases. Rural residents who mainly use firewood for energy made up 44% of the study population. Only 47% of the patients had a history of smoking and the average pack-year count was 28. 1 in 5 patients were HIV positive and 57% of HIV-infected patients were smokers compared to 31% among HIV-negative patients. HIV-positive patients with lung cancer younger at diagnosis compared to HIV-negative patients by 4 years. High-risk occupations were identified in 8% of cases. In histological classification Non-Small cell lung carcinoma (NSLC), Small ell lung carcinoma (SCLC), mesothelioma and other subtypes made up 88%, 7%, 2.7% and 2.7% of all cases respectively. Adenocarcinoma comprised 53% of all NSLC cases with squamous carcinoma making up 31%. Eighteen patients (24.7%) had immunohistochemistry use in pathological diagnosis.
Conclusions
Lung cancer patients are diagnosed at a younger age than the global average. Less than half the patients have a history of smoking, other significant risk factors include HIV infection, indoor pollution and occupational exposure. HIV infected patients have a higher smoking prevalence than HIV-negative patients. Lung adenocarcinoma is the commonest subtype.
Editorial acknowledgement
Tendai Mazaiwana, Rhine-Waal University of Applied Sciences (Germany).
Legal entity responsible for the study
The authors.
Funding
Has not received any funding.
Disclosure
All authors have declared no conflicts of interest.