Genito-Urinary tumours in Jamaica

ABSTRACT

The paper presents an account of genito-urinary tumours seen at the University of the West Indies during the period 1953-1966. There were 280 cases of carcinoma of the penis, which is an extremely high incidence. Carcinoma of the prostate appears to be more common than in Europe, although accurate figures for the University of the West Indies were not available. There were 46 tumours of the kidney, four of the pelvis and 42 of the parenchyma. Twenty-six occurred in adults and 16 in children. This corresponds to the pattern seen in Africa and probably reflects a lower incidence in adults and a higher incidence in children than is seen in Europe. There is also a reversal of the sex ratio male to female of 11.3 in children and 11.8 in adults (U.K. figures 21). There were 132 cases of carcinoma of the bladder. There was a low incidence of papillary lesions. There is a higher incidence in women to men (11.8) than in any other series except in that from Portuguese East Africa (U.K. ratio 14.1). The incidence of squamous carcinoma was 28 percent in men and 34 percent in women. This is high and follows the African patterns (Egypt 50 percent, Uganda 34 percent). There is no Bilharzia in Jamaica but 28.3 percent of male cancer is associated with urethral stricture and 45 percent of the squamous carcinoma with urethral stricture. Dietary factors, particularly banana and plantain, may be implicated in the high incidence. Ther were 13 cases of tumour of the urethra, with a female to male ratio of 21. There were only six cases of tumour of the testis, which represents a low incidence. Especially interesting is the fact that only one case was in the usual age group; two were in infancy and three in men over the age of 60 (AU)