Primary lung cancer and occupational exposure in a north african population

Abstract

Bronchopulmonary tumors (BPTs) are the most common cancers. They are associated with poor prognosis. They are usually caused by occupational exposure, but this is often underestimated. The purpose of this study is to assess the rate of bronchopulmonary tumors (BPT) probably due to occupational exposure and to investigate the relationship between the type of exposition and the histological type of BPT. We conducted a retrospective epidemiological study, in the Department of Pneumology at the Public Hospital Institution (EPH) in Rouïba. Between January 2014 and June 2019, we collected 357 cases with histologically confirmed BPT. Medical and professional history collections were carried out. The job-exposure matrix was used to identify the various exposures. The study population consisted of 357 patients, with an average age of 63.9±11.1 years and a male to female sex-ratio of 7.4; 76.5% of patients were smokers or former smokers, on average 42 P/A. Non-small-cell lung carcinoma was confirmed histologically in 88.8% of patients. All occupational categories studied would be responsible for 50.7% of exposure-related primary lung cancers, of which 26.5% were due to occupational exposure of heavy-duty drivers and gear drivers. Occupational exposure as a leading cause of bronchopulmonary cancers (CBP) is not negligible but often unrecognized due to its multifactorial factors and the latency period from the time of exposure to onset of disease symptoms, with an impact on the histological type of bronchopulmonary cancer.