CARCINOMA OF THE UTERINE CERVIX AND SCHISTOSOMIASIS

OBJECTIVES: To determine the incidence of carcinoma of the uterine cer vix and its relationship to schistosomiasis infection. METHODS: A retr ospective analysis of a 10-year period (1980-1990) at the department o f histopathology (cancer registry) of the University of Dar es Salaam using statistical evaluation of the proportional rate of histomorpholo gical diagnosis, clinical symptoms and epidemiological aspects. RESULT S. There were 4520 cases classified as cervical carcinoma. Unexpectedl y, only 76 of these (1.7%) revealed an association with schistosomiasi s. Precancerous lesions of the squamous epithelium of the uterine cerv ix were a relatively common feature in carcinoma of both groups. Furth ermore, epidemiological analysis indicates that the occurrence of canc er and schistosomiasis infection of the cervix is nor strictly confine d to the population of rural regions, known as endemic areas, with low hygienic and socioeconomic standards. This fact is most probably due to the rural people moving into urban areas, hoping to improve their q uality of life. CONCLUSIONS. Our data do not support the assumption of an etiologic role of schistosomiasis in the oncogenesis of cervical c arcinoma.