Background: This study was undertaken to determine epidemiological and pathological profile of cervical cancer in Tunisia.
Design study: Registration and analysis of all cervical cancer newly diagnosed during the year 1994 (year of general census) based on review of all pathology laboratory files in the country with exclusion of previously diagnosed cases according to clinical data.
Results: During the year 1994, 216 new cases were registered among which 195 cases (89.81%) were invasive carcinoma. The standardized incidence (invasive cancer) is 5.91 per 100000 women per year. The average age was 53.7 year. Sixty-three percent cases are diagnosed at an advanced stage (IIB, III, IV FIGO stages). Invasive carcinoma has distributed as follows: 177 cases (91.23%) were squamous invasive carcinoma, 17 cases (8.77%) were invasive adenocarcinoma. In the same year, 21 cases of in situ squamous carcinoma were registered with an average age equal to 44.21 year. Only one case of cervical cancer was a sarcoma (0.52%).
Conclusion: The incidence of cervical cancer in Tunisia is relatively low in spite of the absence of a screening program. This may be related to monogamy and observance of legal age of marriage. Squamous invasive carcinoma is the most frequent pathological type.
Condensation: The incidence of cervical cancer in Tunisia is relatively low in spite of the absence of a screening program.