Clinicopathological features and prevalence of prostate cancer in Aseer, Saudi Arabia

Hassan M Otifi; Osama M S Abdul-Wahab; Mishari H Al-Shyarba; Majed S S Al Fayi; Abdullah H Al Murea; Elhem Yacoub

doi:10.15537/smj.2022.43.7.20210758

Clinicopathological features and prevalence of prostate cancer in Aseer, Saudi Arabia

Saudi Med J. 2022 Jul;43(7):755-759. doi: 10.15537/smj.2022.43.7.20210758.

Authors

Hassan M Otifi¹, Osama M S Abdul-Wahab¹, Mishari H Al-Shyarba¹, Majed S S Al Fayi¹, Abdullah H Al Murea¹, Elhem Yacoub¹

Affiliation

¹ From the Department of Pathology (Otifi); from the Department of Surgery (Al-Shyarba), College of Medicine; from the Department of Clinical Laboratory Sciences (Abdul-Wahab, Al Fayi), Faculty of Applied Medical Sciences, King Khalid University, from the Department of Laboratory (Al Murea), Aseer Central Hospital, Abha, Kingdom of Saudi Arabia, and from the Specialized Unit of Mycoplasmas, Laboratory of Molecular Microbiology, Vaccinology, and Biotechnology Development (Yacoub), Institut Pasteur de Tunis, University of Tunis El-Manar, Tunis, Tunisia.

Abstract

Objectives: To determine the prevalence and characterize prostate cancer (PC) cases in Aseer, Saudi Arabia.

Methods: This study involved 883 patients who consulted physicians in Aseer Central Hospital, Abha, Saudi Arabia, for prostate issues between the years 2008-2018. All patients underwent digital rectal examination and measurement of their serum prostate-specific antigen levels. For patients who presented abnormal digital rectal examination findings and elevated prostate-specific antigen levels, prostate biopsies were recommended. Specimens were histopathologically examined to differentiate between malignant and benign tumors.

Results: Among the 883 included patients, 132 (15%) underwent a prostate biopsy and were found to have a tumor. Histopathological examination confirmed malignancy (PC) in 77 (8.7%) patients. The absolute majority of the patients diagnosed with PC (96%) were aged >60 years and almost all of them (92%) were found to have a high prostate-specific antigen level of >4 ng/ml.

Conclusion: Prostate cancer appears to be a serious disease in Aseer, Saudi Arabia. Further studies aimed at determining the causes of this type of cancer and understanding its mechanisms are warranted.

Keywords: Aseer region; Saudi Arabia; incidence; prostate cancer.

MeSH terms

Biopsy
Humans
Male
Prevalence
Prostate-Specific Antigen*
Prostatic Neoplasms* / diagnosis
Prostatic Neoplasms* / epidemiology
Saudi Arabia / epidemiology

Substances

Prostate-Specific Antigen