Ovarian cancer epidemiology in Thrace, Greece

Purpose of investigation: To report the differences in ovarian cancer preva lence between the two major ethnic groups (Christian Orthodox and Muslims) in Thrace, Greece. Method: We carried out a retrospective study on 57 patients, aged 16-79 yea rs, who were treated in our clinic for ovarian cancer. Results: The cumulative ovarian cancer prevalence in Thrace was 6.8/100,000 (5.5/100,000 fur Christian Orthodox and 1.3/100,000 fur Muslims). There we re no statistically significant differences in most variables affecting the tumour itself. The statistical analysis of demographic risk factors reveal ed that the Christian population was more: of a middle class profile, while the Muslim lifestyle sustained its cultural characteristics, a difference that could be related to the discrepancy observed in ovarian cancel prevale nce among them. Conclusions: The overall ovarian cancer prevalence in Thrace is lower than that reported for most developed countries and higher than that for most As ian countries. The variance in prevalence between Christian Orthodox and Mu slims could possibly be attributed to the different major parameters in lif estyles.