Pattern of Head and Neck Cancers in Karbala Province, Iraq: Data from a Developing Country

Abstract

Background and objective: Patterns of head and neck cancers (HNCs) vary worldwide due to demographic and environmental factors. This study aimed to investigate the patterns of HNCs in Karbala Province, Iraq, comparing them to other populations and identifying potential changes.

Materials and Methods: This retrospective descriptive study was conducted at Al-Hussein Cancer Center in Karbala, Iraq, from January 2012 to December 2021. The study included 302 patients diagnosed with HNCs, analyzing age, gender distribution, and cancer site.

Results: The median age of the 302 patients was 58 years. Males comprised a higher proportion of patients, with 67.55% male and 32.45% female, resulting in an M:F ratio of 2.08:1. The larynx was the most affected site among patients, accounting for 28.48% of cases, followed by the nasopharynx (28.14%), lip & oral cavity (14.57%), salivary glands (11.59%), oropharynx (8.28%), paranasal sinuses (5.30%), and hypopharynx (3.64%). The most frequent site of HNCs in males was the larynx, while the most frequent site in females was the nasopharynx.

Conclusion: This was the first statistical study of HNCs in Karbala Province, Iraq. It provided baseline information for investigating epidemiological characteristics, evaluating progress in recent years, and developing treatment strategies.