HOME > TUNISIA > EPIDEMIOLOGY |
In an article by Hsairi et al. published in 2002, the authors state that the incidence of prostate cancer in Tunisia suring the period 1993-97 was 6.1/100,000 based on data from the cancer registries for the North, Sousse, and Sfax regions of the country.
The GLOBOCAN 2002 database (compiled by Ferlay et al. for the International Agency for Research on Cancer) provides the following data for prostate cancer in Tunisia:
- Estimated number of new cases per year: 315
- Estimated age-standardized rate of new cases per year: 8.1/100,000
- Estimated number of deaths per year: 274
- Estimated age-standardized number of deaths per year: 7.0/100,000
- Estimated 1-year prevalence: 236
- Estimated 5-year prevalence: 764
The WHO Impact of Cancer in Your Country data tables provide the following data for prostate cancer in Tunisia:
- Estimated age-standardized incidence (in 2002): 10/100,000
- Estimated age-standardized death rate (in 2005): 8/100,000
In 2005, Khouaja et al. published data based on a prospective screening initiative at their hospital in Sousse. A total of 642 individuals were screened, using free and total PSA data and a digital rectal examination. This initiative detected a total of 47 cancers (i.e., cancers in 7.3 percent of the participants): 29 of the patients had PSA levels > 20 ng/ml and 17 had PSA levels between 4 and 20 ng/ml.
As in other countries, there are occasional reports of advanced prostate cancer even in very young adults. Sfaxi et al. have reported the case of a 25-year-old male diagnosed with locally advanced, poorly differentiated disease (Gleason score = 10) who responded to a combination of radiotherapy, hormone therapy, and chemotherapy.
If you know of additional sources of specific or current information about the incidence, prevalence and mortality of prostate cancer in Tunisia, we would be interested in learning about them. Please post such information in the comment box below.
