demographic & histotopographic characteristics of solid cancers among patients referred to kermanshah health care centers, (2001-2004)

background & objectives: in the 6-billion-population world 2000, approximately 10 million cancers were diagnosed, among which there were an estimated 6.2 million cancer deaths. whereas the universality of cancer incidence and mortality is established, the burden of cancer by type or organ site is distributed unequally between developing and industrialized nations. we want to collect some information from the patients with solid tumors who were referred to kermanshah hospitals during the period 2000 to 2004. materials and methods: this descriptive and cross-sectional study was performed on 734 patients with solid tumors who were referred to kermanshah hospitals during 2000 up to spring of 2004. we gathered data via census method and analyzed them by chi-square, fisher exact in spss version 13. results: patients with cancers aged 57.37±16.45 years that 61% were males. the most common locations of tumors in patients were: gastrointestinal (n=206; 29%); genito-urinary (n=200; 28%); skin (n=77; 10%); breast (n=72; 10%); head & neck (n=69; 9%); cardiopulmonary (n=60; 8%); hematopoietic system (n=24; 3%); musculoskeletal (n=16; 2%) and cns (n=10; 1%). the most common pathologic type of tumors was: epithelial tumors (n=626; 85%); mesenchymal (n=55; 8%); melanocytic tumors (n=20; 3%); mixed (n=18; 2%), and teratocarcinoma (n=15; 2%). 31% of epithelial tumors involved genito-urinary tract and less than 2% involved hematopoietic system. the mean age of patients with epithelial tumors was 58.7±15.3 years. conclusion: suitable information of different types of cancers in particular geographic areas can help define medical programs for treatment and screening of high-risk groups.