Gallbladder cancer in Morocco: the epidemiological evidence

Abstract

Introduction: Gallbladder cancer is the 22nd most common cancer in men and women and the 16th leading cause of cancer-related death in Northern Africa, with an estimated 2 479 new cases of gallbladder cancer (1 568 women and 911 men) and 2 313 cancer deaths in 2012 (GLOBOCAN 2012). This study was conducted to determine the prevalence and epidemiological characteristics of gallbladder cancer in Morocco. Methods: This is a retrospective study of gallbladder cancer cases, diagnosed and treated at Al Azhar Oncology Center in Rabat between 2005 and 2015. Results: There were 44 new cases of gallbladder cancer diagnosed at Al Azhar Oncology Center; 27 (61.4%) in women and 17 (38.6%) in men, giving a female-male ratio of 1.6 and accounting for 9.7% of all new cases of gastrointestinal cancer and 0.6% of all cancers reported during the study period. The average age at diagnosis of gallbladder cancer was 59.2±7.5 years for all patients (range 46-75 years), 60.8±8.1 years for men and 58.2±7.1 years for women. The risk of developing gallbladder cancer increases with age. Nearly 93% of cases were diagnosed in people aged 50 years and older. Among all detected cases, 2 (4.5%) were diagnosed with metastatic disease and 8 (18.2%) died during the study period, accounting for 6.8% of all gastrointestinal cancer deaths and 1.3% of all cancer deaths. Conclusion: The most recent estimates of gallbladder cancer incidence and mortality in the world reveal sharp differences between developed and developing countries possibly related to missed opportunities for early diagnosis and incomplete reporting of gallbladder cancer in Africa.