Publication:

Profile of gynecological malignancies after the start of gynecology oncology surgeries in Sikkim-experience from a tertiary hospital in North East India

Background North East is the “cancer capital” of India where there is acute lack of oncologists and oncology facilities. Objectives of the study were to evaluate the trends of gynecological malignancies and to evaluate the need for oncology facility in Sikkim.

Methods This is a retrospective desk review conducted in department of obstetrics and gynecology at Sikkim Manipal institute of medical sciences, India, for a period of three years after the start of oncology surgeries. Women operated for any gynecological malignancy were taken into the study while women referred outside for alternative treatment were excluded from the study.

Results A total 29 women with gynecological malignancies were operated during the 3-year period. Of the total, 17 (58%) were women operated for carcinoma ovary, 6 (21%) for cancer cervix and 6 (21%) for carcinoma uterus. Epithelial ovarian cancer was the most common ovarian cancer. 105 women with large complex ovarian masses were operated during the three-year period, however, only 17 women were diagnosed with cancer of which 8 women had stage I disease while 9 women had advanced disease (stage III-IV). 12 women underwent primary debulking surgery while 5 women underwent interval debulking surgery. Average age for cervical cancer was 48 years, average age for ovarian cancer was 46 years while 52 years was the average age for cancer uterus.

Conclusions High number of gynecological malignancies operated in the only center offering minimum oncological surgical facility points towards the need for a specialized center providing all the needs for treating oncology cases in Sikkim