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. 2022 Jul;43(7):755-759.
doi: 10.15537/smj.2022.43.7.20210758.

Clinicopathological features and prevalence of prostate cancer in Aseer, Saudi Arabia

Hassan M Otifi  1 , Osama M S Abdul-Wahab  1 , Mishari H Al-Shyarba  1 , Majed S S Al Fayi  1 , Abdullah H Al Murea  1 , Elhem Yacoub  1
Affiliations

Clinicopathological features and prevalence of prostate cancer in Aseer, Saudi Arabia

Hassan M Otifi et al. Saudi Med J. 2022 Jul.

Abstract

Objectives: To determine the prevalence and characterize prostate cancer (PC) cases in Aseer, Saudi Arabia.

Methods: This study involved 883 patients who consulted physicians in Aseer Central Hospital, Abha, Saudi Arabia, for prostate issues between the years 2008-2018. All patients underwent digital rectal examination and measurement of their serum prostate-specific antigen levels. For patients who presented abnormal digital rectal examination findings and elevated prostate-specific antigen levels, prostate biopsies were recommended. Specimens were histopathologically examined to differentiate between malignant and benign tumors.

Results: Among the 883 included patients, 132 (15%) underwent a prostate biopsy and were found to have a tumor. Histopathological examination confirmed malignancy (PC) in 77 (8.7%) patients. The absolute majority of the patients diagnosed with PC (96%) were aged >60 years and almost all of them (92%) were found to have a high prostate-specific antigen level of >4 ng/ml.

Conclusion: Prostate cancer appears to be a serious disease in Aseer, Saudi Arabia. Further studies aimed at determining the causes of this type of cancer and understanding its mechanisms are warranted.

Keywords: Aseer region; Saudi Arabia; incidence; prostate cancer.

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Figures

Figure 1
Figure 1
- Flowchart of the study design, showing the different screening steps for specimen sorting. On the basis of DRE findings and PSA levels, biopsy was either highly recommended (bold solid green arrows) or moderately recommended (solid blue and yellow arrows) or not recommended at all (red dashed arrows). DRE: digital rectal examination, PSA: prostate-specific antigen, PC: prostate cancer, BPH: benign prostatic hyperplasia.
Figure 2
Figure 2
- Prevalence of prostate cancer in the Saudi population from Aseer province included in the study. Panel A) partition of the enrolled patients according to prostate biopsy screening and histopathological examination. Panel B) division of the whole study population based on PC diagnosis. PC: prostate cancer, BPH: benign prostatic hyperplasia
Figure 3
Figure 3
- Grouping of the patients with prostate cancer according to age and blood prostate-specific antigen (PSA) level.
See this image and copyright information in PMC

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