Nasopharyngeal Carcinoma in South of Iraq: A Retrospective Study

Abstract

Nasopharyngeal carcinoma (NPC) is one of the most common head and neck tumor. In 2018, more than 120 thousand new cases of NPC reported. The main objective of this study was to identified NPC in south of Iraq and determined the risk factors of it. The pathology files derived from Al-Shifaa Oncology Center and Al-Sadder Teaching Hospital, affiliated to Misan Health Director, Ministry of Health and Environment, Misan, Iraq, served as the source of the materials for this study. All cases diagnosed with NPC were included in the study. The recorded data included the patient’s age, gender, address, disease stages, histopathology, and tobacco smoking. The mean±SD of age was 40±13.98 years. Misan and Nasiriya high percent of NPC. Males were 3 folds affected than females. Eleven patients presented with stage II disease, followed by stage III in six cases. The undifferentiated NPC was frequently recorded in 50% of patients. 13 (65%) of patients were tobacco smoking. NPC was more often in middle age group. Misan and Nasiriya provinces have high incidence than Basrah and Wasit provinces. Male to female ratio of NPC is 3:1. In Iraq, the stage II represented the commonest stage with undifferentiated histopathology is the dominant one.