Types and risk factors of cervical cancer

Abstract EN

Objective : To determine the types of cervical cancer and risk factors among women and the possible relationship between the risk factors and each specific type of cervical cancer.

Setting : Salmaniya Medical Center, Bahrain.

Design : A Retrospective, Descriptive Cross-Sectional Study.

Method : All patients who were diagnosed with cervical cancer by positive cytology test during 2006 to 2010 were included.

Data were collected from the patients’ record and from various investigation reports using a predefined questionnaire.

Result : The total number of women with cervical cancer from 2006 to 2010 was 34.

The highest prevalence rate was in 2006 (4 per 100, 000), age ranged from 31 to 84 years ; 25 (74 %) were Bahrainis.

Nineteen (56 %) had squamous cell carcinoma and 11 (32 %) had adenocarcinoma including one case of adenosquamous carcinoma.

Thirteen (38.2 %) patients with squamous cell carcinoma were older than 50 years.

Six (17.6 %) patients with adenocarcinoma and adenosquamous carcinoma were younger than 50 years.

Conclusion : There is a low but rising prevalence of cervical cancer in Bahrain (from 0.6 to 4 per 100, 000) from 2006 to 2010.

It is recommended that attending physicians should take proper detailed history from all cancer cases that include all possible risk factors.

Since half of the sample population were found to have positive family history of any cancer, screening of the first-degree relatives for cervical cancer is important.

A future study with a larger sample and a control group is recommended to be carried out to establish causality between cervical cancer and their possible risk factors.