The pattern and distribution of malignancies reported in Hadramout, Yemen--2006.

OBJECTIVES To describe the pattern of malignancies among all patients with cancer recorded in Hadramout (East of Yemen) in 2006, and to explore the association with age, sex, and site of cancer. METHODS A retrospective descriptive study of all registered cancers (334) was carried out. Efforts were made to avoid case duplication. The neoplasms had been classified according to international classification of diseases for oncology. RESULTS The cancers were more frequent in females (55%) than males (45%). The three most affected sites were digestive organs (20.35%), breast (14.37%), and haematopoietic system (11.98%). In the paediatric group, haematopoietic system (leukaemia) was most common. CONCLUSIONS Digestive organs in general, with breast in females, were the most frequent sites of malignancies. Colorectal cancers were the most common cancers in digestive organs.