Epidemiology of nasal and paranasal sinus cancer in Tunisia

To report the epidemiological and clinical features of nasal and paranasal sinus cancers collected during a period of 35 years at the Salah Azaiez Institute of Tunis. This retrospective study concerned patients with histologically confirmed nasal and paranasal sinus cancers treated at our institute from 1969 to 2004. We collected the following data: age, sex, residence (rural or urban), site, occupation and professional exposure, histological type and tumor extension. We identified 265 cases (163 M; 102 F; Sex-ratio=1.65) with a mean age of 60 years (3 months - 91 years). Epidermoid carcinoma (47%) and adenocarcinoma (16%) predominated followed by sarcoma (14%) and melanoma (6%). We observed only 2 cases (0.7%) of ethmoidal adenocarcinoma. Nasal and paranasal cancers in Tunisia are linked more to chronic rhino-sinusal inflammation than professional exposition (wood).