Prostate carcinoma: Comparative study of Saudi Arabian and Nigerian series

Abstract

Aim: A recent Saudi Arabian series on prostate carcinoma directed attention to the urgent need for worldwide comparative studies and accumulation of data on this disease. This necessitated comparing of my West African data with those of that Middle Eastern population.
Method: A 30-year retrospective study was carried out as regards surgical specimens of prostate carcinoma received by me on a referral basis. Thereafter, findings were compared as regards Nigeria and Saudi Arabia.
Results: Much as Saudi doctors are yet to grasp the urgency of the problems of prostate carcinoma, Igbo doctors appreciate it greatly. Although the ethnic origins of the different Saudi communities could not be characterized, the present paper deals specifically with the Igbos. The Saudis and Igbos were averagely aged as close as 68.8 years and 66 years respectively. In contrast, the respective incidences of haematuria were 2% and 11.8%.
Conclusions: Whereas the wind of change is scarcely blowing among Saudi urologists, their Igbo counterparts are showing increasing activities in the 1970s, 1980s, and 1990s. The problem of genetic predisposition may be solved by asking specific questions regarding the hometowns of patients and any involvement of their family members. With regard to worldwide future horizons in prostate research, there is need, among other environmental determinants, to pursue studies on ethnicity.

Keywords: Prostate carcinoma, Saudi Arabians, Nigerian Igbos, epidemiology.

Journal of College of Medicine Vol. 11 (2) 2006: 92-95