Clinical profile, treatment, and outcomes of testicular cancer in a resource-limited setting: a study from Sudan

Abstract Background Testicular cancer is a rare malignancy, with limited data on its clinical characteristics and outcomes in Africa. This study aims to provide baseline information on the clinical presentation, treatment, and outcomes of testicular cancer in Sudan, a low-income African nation. Meth...

Full description

Saved in:
Bibliographic Details
Main Authors: Eltahir Ahmed Eltahir, Sami Mahjoub Taha Awad, Yassin Mohammed Osman, Mohammed El Imam Mohammed Ahmed, Moawia Mohammed Ali Elhassan
Format: Article
Language:English
Published: SpringerOpen 2025-01-01
Series:African Journal of Urology
Subjects:
Online Access:https://doi.org/10.1186/s12301-024-00474-7
Tags: Add Tag
No Tags, Be the first to tag this record!
_version_ 1841544521951739904
author Eltahir Ahmed Eltahir
Sami Mahjoub Taha Awad
Yassin Mohammed Osman
Mohammed El Imam Mohammed Ahmed
Moawia Mohammed Ali Elhassan
author_facet Eltahir Ahmed Eltahir
Sami Mahjoub Taha Awad
Yassin Mohammed Osman
Mohammed El Imam Mohammed Ahmed
Moawia Mohammed Ali Elhassan
author_sort Eltahir Ahmed Eltahir
collection DOAJ
description Abstract Background Testicular cancer is a rare malignancy, with limited data on its clinical characteristics and outcomes in Africa. This study aims to provide baseline information on the clinical presentation, treatment, and outcomes of testicular cancer in Sudan, a low-income African nation. Methods A retrospective review was conducted at two tertiary care centers in central Sudan. Data were extracted for patients > 15 years of age diagnosed with testicular cancer from 2007 to 2015, with a follow-up of up to 5 years. Patients were identified from hospital records at the National Cancer Institute and Gezira Hospital for Renal disease and Surgery. Results The study included 50 patients with a mean age of 41.9 years (SD = 18.9). Testicular swelling was the most common presenting symptom, reported in 70% of patients (n = 35). The median time from the initial complaint to diagnosis was 6 months (range: 1–36). Seminoma was the predominant histopathological subtype accounting for 68% of cases, and 64% of patients presented with advanced-stage disease (stage III). Radical orchidectomy was performed in 86% of patients. Chemotherapy was administered to 88% of patients, while 10% received radiotherapy. At the last follow-up, 44% of patients were in remission, 18% were alive with disease progression, and 36% had died. Conclusions This study highlights the high mortality rate associated with testicular cancer in this resource-limited setting, which is likely due to delayed diagnosis and the advanced stage at presentation. Enhancing health education is crucial to promote early detection and ensure timely access to care, ultimately improving patient outcomes.
format Article
id doaj-art-7db808e61e35485b945b3fd41d414035
institution Kabale University
issn 1961-9987
language English
publishDate 2025-01-01
publisher SpringerOpen
record_format Article
series African Journal of Urology
spelling doaj-art-7db808e61e35485b945b3fd41d4140352025-01-12T12:29:19ZengSpringerOpenAfrican Journal of Urology1961-99872025-01-013111710.1186/s12301-024-00474-7Clinical profile, treatment, and outcomes of testicular cancer in a resource-limited setting: a study from SudanEltahir Ahmed Eltahir0Sami Mahjoub Taha Awad1Yassin Mohammed Osman2Mohammed El Imam Mohammed Ahmed3Moawia Mohammed Ali Elhassan4Department of Surgery, Faculty of Medicine, University of AlfashirDepartment of Surgery, Faculty of Medicine, University of GeziraDepartment of Surgery, Faculty of Medicine, University of GeziraDepartment of Surgery, Faculty of Medicine, University of GeziraOncology Department, National Cancer Institute, University of GeziraAbstract Background Testicular cancer is a rare malignancy, with limited data on its clinical characteristics and outcomes in Africa. This study aims to provide baseline information on the clinical presentation, treatment, and outcomes of testicular cancer in Sudan, a low-income African nation. Methods A retrospective review was conducted at two tertiary care centers in central Sudan. Data were extracted for patients > 15 years of age diagnosed with testicular cancer from 2007 to 2015, with a follow-up of up to 5 years. Patients were identified from hospital records at the National Cancer Institute and Gezira Hospital for Renal disease and Surgery. Results The study included 50 patients with a mean age of 41.9 years (SD = 18.9). Testicular swelling was the most common presenting symptom, reported in 70% of patients (n = 35). The median time from the initial complaint to diagnosis was 6 months (range: 1–36). Seminoma was the predominant histopathological subtype accounting for 68% of cases, and 64% of patients presented with advanced-stage disease (stage III). Radical orchidectomy was performed in 86% of patients. Chemotherapy was administered to 88% of patients, while 10% received radiotherapy. At the last follow-up, 44% of patients were in remission, 18% were alive with disease progression, and 36% had died. Conclusions This study highlights the high mortality rate associated with testicular cancer in this resource-limited setting, which is likely due to delayed diagnosis and the advanced stage at presentation. Enhancing health education is crucial to promote early detection and ensure timely access to care, ultimately improving patient outcomes.https://doi.org/10.1186/s12301-024-00474-7Testicular neoplasmsGerm cell tumorsDelayed diagnosisSurvivalSub-Saharan Africa
spellingShingle Eltahir Ahmed Eltahir
Sami Mahjoub Taha Awad
Yassin Mohammed Osman
Mohammed El Imam Mohammed Ahmed
Moawia Mohammed Ali Elhassan
Clinical profile, treatment, and outcomes of testicular cancer in a resource-limited setting: a study from Sudan
African Journal of Urology
Testicular neoplasms
Germ cell tumors
Delayed diagnosis
Survival
Sub-Saharan Africa
title Clinical profile, treatment, and outcomes of testicular cancer in a resource-limited setting: a study from Sudan
title_full Clinical profile, treatment, and outcomes of testicular cancer in a resource-limited setting: a study from Sudan
title_fullStr Clinical profile, treatment, and outcomes of testicular cancer in a resource-limited setting: a study from Sudan
title_full_unstemmed Clinical profile, treatment, and outcomes of testicular cancer in a resource-limited setting: a study from Sudan
title_short Clinical profile, treatment, and outcomes of testicular cancer in a resource-limited setting: a study from Sudan
title_sort clinical profile treatment and outcomes of testicular cancer in a resource limited setting a study from sudan
topic Testicular neoplasms
Germ cell tumors
Delayed diagnosis
Survival
Sub-Saharan Africa
url https://doi.org/10.1186/s12301-024-00474-7
work_keys_str_mv AT eltahirahmedeltahir clinicalprofiletreatmentandoutcomesoftesticularcancerinaresourcelimitedsettingastudyfromsudan
AT samimahjoubtahaawad clinicalprofiletreatmentandoutcomesoftesticularcancerinaresourcelimitedsettingastudyfromsudan
AT yassinmohammedosman clinicalprofiletreatmentandoutcomesoftesticularcancerinaresourcelimitedsettingastudyfromsudan
AT mohammedelimammohammedahmed clinicalprofiletreatmentandoutcomesoftesticularcancerinaresourcelimitedsettingastudyfromsudan
AT moawiamohammedalielhassan clinicalprofiletreatmentandoutcomesoftesticularcancerinaresourcelimitedsettingastudyfromsudan