Chagas disease and gynecologic neoplasias.

ABSTRACT

The inflammation caused by Trypanosoma cruzi produces irritation and cell proliferation and may contribute to the development of cancer. The objective was to determine the occurrence of gynecologic neoplasia (GN) and demographic characteristics in patients with Chagas disease (CD). We used protocols of 671 autopsies between 1976 and 2008. The patients were divided into 3 groups with GN and CD, only with CD, and only with GN. The 2 diseases were observed in 4.5% of patients with a mean age of 47.6 years and who were predominantly white. The megaesophagus and megacolon were more frequent in the group with only CD. The most common benign neoplasm was uterine leiomyoma, and malignant, carcinoma of the cervix. We conclude that the epidemiological profile of patients with CD and GN was similar to the other groups, and the CD was found not to be a risk factor or protective against the development of GN.