[Primary lung cancer and occupational exposure in a North African population]

Pan Afr Med J. 2020 Oct 5:37:120. doi: 10.11604/pamj.2020.37.120.21755. eCollection 2020.
[Article in French]

Abstract

Bronchopulmonary tumors (BPTs) are the most common cancers. They are associated with poor prognosis. They are usually caused by occupational exposure, but this is often underestimated. The purpose of this study is to assess the rate of bronchopulmonary tumors (BPT) probably due to occupational exposure and to investigate the relationship between the type of exposition and the histological type of BPT. We conducted a retrospective epidemiological study, in the Department of Pneumology at the Public Hospital Institution (EPH) in Rouïba. Between January 2014 and June 2019, we collected 357 cases with histologically confirmed BPT. Medical and professional history collections were carried out. The job-exposure matrix was used to identify the various exposures. The study population consisted of 357 patients, with an average age of 63.9±11.1 years and a male to female sex-ratio of 7.4; 76.5% of patients were smokers or former smokers, on average 42 P/A. Non-small-cell lung carcinoma was confirmed histologically in 88.8% of patients. All occupational categories studied would be responsible for 50.7% of exposure-related primary lung cancers, of which 26.5% were due to occupational exposure of heavy-duty drivers and gear drivers. Occupational exposure as a leading cause of bronchopulmonary cancers (CBP) is not negligible but often unrecognized due to its multifactorial factors and the latency period from the time of exposure to onset of disease symptoms, with an impact on the histological type of bronchopulmonary cancer.

Les cancers broncho-pulmonaires (CBP) sont parmi les cancers les plus fréquents, de pronostic redoutable, l´origine professionnelle est fréquente, mais souvent sous-estimés. L'objectif était d´évaluer la proportion des Cancers Broncho-pulmonaires (CBP) présumés d´origine professionnelle et de rechercher la relation entre la nature de l´exposition et le type histologique du CBP. Cette étude épidémiologique rétrospective, a été réalisée au service de pneumologie de l´Etablissement Public Hospitalier (EPH) de Rouïba. Entre janvier 2014 et juin 2019, nous avons colligé 357 cas atteints de CBP avec preuve histologique. Le recueil des histoires médicales et professionnelles fut effectué. Les matrices emploi-exposition ont été utilisées pour le repérage des différentes expositions professionnelles. La population d´étude comprenait 357 patients dont la moyenne d´âge était de 63,9±11,1 ans et un sex-ratio de 7,4 hommes pour une femme. Il y avait 76,5% des sujets qui fumaient ou avaient fumé en moyenne 42 P/A. Le type histologique était dans 88,8% un carcinome bronchique non à petite cellule. L'ensemble des professions étudiées seraient responsables de 50,7% des cancers bronchiques primitifs, dont 26,5% pour les professions de chauffeurs poids lourds et conducteurs d´engins. L´imputabilité des cancers broncho-pulmonaires (CBP) à l´origine professionnelle est loin d´être négligeable mais souvent méconnue; du fait du caractère multifactoriel et du temps de latence entre l´exposition et l´apparition de la maladie, avec un impact sur le type histologique du cancer broncho-pulmonaire.

Keywords: Bronchopulmonary cancers; histopathology; occupational disease; occupational exposure.

Publication types

  • Case Reports

MeSH terms

  • Aged
  • Algeria / epidemiology
  • Bronchial Neoplasms / epidemiology*
  • Bronchial Neoplasms / etiology
  • Carcinoma, Non-Small-Cell Lung / epidemiology
  • Carcinoma, Non-Small-Cell Lung / etiology
  • Female
  • Humans
  • Lung Neoplasms / epidemiology*
  • Lung Neoplasms / etiology
  • Male
  • Middle Aged
  • Occupational Diseases / epidemiology*
  • Occupational Diseases / pathology
  • Occupational Exposure / adverse effects*
  • Sex Distribution
  • Smoking / epidemiology