Epidemiology of carcinoma of the cervix uteri in Lebanese christians and moslems

Abstract

During 1964–1966 the newly diagnosed and histologically confirmed cases of cancer in Lebanon were identified by examination of all pathology reports from the different institutions where the diagnosis is made. This revealed 227 Christian and Moslem women with all stages of cancer of the cervix. Notwithstanding the different circumcision status of men, cervical cancer was relatively as frequent in Moslems as in Christians. The proportion diagnosed in Moslems equalled that of cancer of the corpus uteri, ovary, female breast or stomach. Data from cobalt treatment centers and mortality data are in line with this observation. A case history study of 140 women with squamous cell carcinoma of the cervix and 140 controls revealed association of the disease with married state, early age at first marriage, low socioeconomic status and no association with age at menarche or natural menopause. There was no difference between cases and controls in circumcision status of the husband as determined by physical examination. Copyright © 1967 American Cancer Society