ANALYSIS OF GENITAL TRACT MALIGNANCIES IN POSTMENOPAUSAL FEMALES – A HOSPITAL-BASED STUDY

Abstract

Introduction: Female genital tract malignancy is common carcinoma. In the developed countries, ovarian cancer is the most common cancer and in developing countries, carcinoma cervix is the most common malignancy. Menopause does not cause cancer, but the risk of developing cancer increases as women ages. Therefore, women who have been through natural menopause are more likely to develop cancer because they are older. A woman who experiences menopause after age 55 has increased risk of ovarian, breast, and uterine cancers. The risk is greater if women also began menstruating before age 12. This is because a woman who menstruates longer than normal during her lifetime is exposed to more estrogen and has more ovulation. Hence, aims and objectives of our study are: (1) To determine the incidence of different genital malignancies in postmenopausal females and (2) to analyzes diagnosis and treatment of genital malignancies in postmenopausal females. Methods: 1. Data were collected using predesigned proforma; consent was taken from every participant, 2. After collection of data, it was tabulated. Statistical calculation and subsequent analysis was made has been presented in the form of Tables and graphs. Results: A total of 401 cases reported to the institute during a period of 1 year. Out of which, 107 patients were that of genital carcinoma. Incidence of female genital tract carcinoma was 26.68%. Approximately 73.87% (82 patients) of cases were that of cervical cancer. Conclusion: Hence, from above study, the most of the patients were diagnosed in advanced stage of malignancy. Carcinoma cervix was the most common female genital tract cancer with ovarian cancer taking the second rank. This is unfortunate as cancer cervix is preventable to a large extent as it takes a decade or more to progress from pre-invasive to invasive lesion, there are various screening modalities to diagnosed the cervix in pre-invasive age, that is, when it still curable.