An epidemiological survey of bladder cancer in Jamaica - abstract

A retrospective analysis of 121 patients with bladder carcinoma seen at the University Hospital of the West Indies between 1979 and 1987 was done. The group was divided histologically into transitional cell (108, 89 per cent) and squamous cell (13, 11 percent). Transitional cell tumours were significantly commoner in males: squamous cell carcinoma was relatively more common in females. These findings could be related to the prevalence of lower urinary tract obstructive uropathy in the aging male and the higher incidence of chronic urinary tract infection in females. The age distribution was similar to most other malignancies peaking in the 7th decade although some transitional cell tumours were found in younger patients. A diet high in fats may be significant in the aetiology of both groups of tumours although this may be more important in the aetiology of the squamous cell type. Sixteen percent of the transitional cell group worked with or came into regular contact with petroleum products, fertilizers or paints. The incidence of both types of bladder tumours were significantly higher in city dwellers (AU)

Breast cancer in Trinidad and Tobago during 1986: a pathological review - abstract

A review of the breast biopsies that were submitted to the General Hospital Laboratory for the year 1986 was done to determine the pathological characteristics of breast cancer in Trinidad and Tobago. Four hundred and thirteen cases were reviewed. Malignant breast neoplasms (106) accounted for 26.2 percent of the cases. Three were 100 new cases of breast cancer which gives an annual rate of 54/100,000. Three per cent of cases had bilateral disease. Invasive duct carcinoma (94 percent) was the most common histological type, with 37 percent showing apocrine differentation. Mesenchymal neoplasms and malignant T-cell lymphomas accounted for 0.5 percent of the cases seen. Modified radical mastectomy and segmental mastectomy, with axillary clearance, were the preferred definitive surgical procedures. The mean tumour size was 3.9 cm. Forty-eight per cent of patients had stage II disease and are expected to have a good prognosis (AU)