Epidemiological study of penile cancer in Pará State, Brazil

Abstract

OBJECTIVES: To analyze the epidemiology of cancer of the penis in Pará and to contribute to the Sociedade Brasileira de Urologia's national study while also seeking to implement measures of prevention, diagnosis and treatment.
METHODS: We retrospectively evaluated 208 patients with epidermoid carcinoma of the penis in the period between June 1996 and June 2006 according to age, origin, social class and time between the onset of the primary lesion and seeking treatment as well as the localization, stage and pathological grade of the lesion. We also sought to determine the overall incidence and prevalence of this cancer in various mesoregions of the State and its prevalence in the institution where the study was conducted.
RESULTS: The highest prevalence was found in the age group between 41 and 70 years of age. The Metropolitan and Northeastern Pará mesoregions were the source of most patients. Almost all patients were from low socioeconomic classes and were mainly farmers. The average interval between the appearance of the lesion and seeking medical care was 11 months. The vast majority of the lesions were invasive and located in the preputial cavity. The crude incidence of the disease in the state is 5.7/100,000 inhabitants/year. These tumors account for 15.7% of the male urogenital tumors and are the second most frequently seen in the Department of Urology. No cases of the disease were observed among the indigenous population of the state.
CONCLUSION: The prevalence and incidence of penis cancer in the State of Pará is alarming. Preventive measures must be implemented to reduce the occurrence of the disease in coming years.