Malignant neoplasms of the vagina: A 30-year review from the Republic of Belarus

Abstract

Objective: To perform a retrospective review of patients diagnosed with vaginal malignant neoplasms (VMN) in the Republic of Belarus. Methods: The Belarusian Cancer Registry was reviewed for patients diagnosed with VMN from 1990 to 2019. The data collected included age at diagnosis, demographic information, histology, stage, treatment modalities, and outcomes. Data were compared across decades (1990–1999, 2000–2009, and 2010–2019). Results: A total of 868 patients were diagnosed with VMN in Belarus between 1990 and 2019. The estimated age-standardized incidence rate of VMN per 100,000 female population increased from 0.1 in 1999 to 0.4 in 2019 (p 0.05. Furthermore, a comparison of 5-year adjusted survival rates between 2000 and 2015 showed increased survival for stages I, II, and III, with the most significant increase noted for stage III disease (2.4-fold increase). Conclusions: This retrospective study found that the survival rates of women with VMN in Belarus have improved over the past 30 years. This is likely due to improvements in early detection as well as improved approaches to treatment, particularly for those living in rural areas. Additional study is needed to further understand and improve the outcomes of women diagnosed with VMN in Belarus.

Keywords

• Vaginal malignant neoplasms
• Epidemiology
• Survival
• Urban and rural residents