A Genomic Analysis of Esophageal Squamous Cell Carcinoma in Eastern Africa.

Background: Esophageal squamous cell carcinoma (ESCC) comprises 90% of all esophageal cancer cases globally and is the most common histology in low-resource settings. Eastern Africa has a disproportionately high incidence of ESCC.

Methods: We describe the genomic profiles of 61 ESCC cases from Tanzania and compare them to profiles from an existing cohort of ESCC cases from Malawi.

Surgical Apgar Score can accurately predict the severity of post-operative complications following emergency laparotomy.

Background: The Surgical Apgar Score (SAS) describes a feasible and objective tool for predicting surgical outcomes. However, the accuracy of the score and its correlation with the complication severity has not been well established in many grounds of low resource settings.

Objective: To determine the accuracy of Surgical Apgar Score in predicting the severity of post-operative complications among patients undergoing emergency laparotomy at Muhimbili National Hospital.

Highlights from the Second Choosing Wisely Africa conference: a roadmap to value-based cancer care in East Africa (9-10 February 2023, Dar es Salaam, Tanzania).

The ecancer Choosing Wisely conference was held for the second time in Africa in Dar es Salaam, Tanzania, from the 9th to 10th of February 2023. ecancer in collaboration with the Tanzania Oncology Society organised this conference which was attended by more than 150 local and international delegates. During the 2 days of the conference, more than ten speakers from different specialties in the field of oncology gave insights into Choosing Wisely in oncology.

The effect of reproductive, hormonal, nutritional and lifestyle on breast cancer risk among black Tanzanian women: A case control study.

Purpose: This study aimed to determine the effect of reproductive, hormonal, lifestyle and nutritional factors on breast cancer development among Tanzanian black women.

Methodology: We undertook a case-control study age-matched to ±5years in 2018 at Muhimbili National Hospital. The study recruited 105 BC patients and 190 controls giving it 80% power to detect an odds ratio of ≥2 at the alpha error of <5% for exposure with a prevalence of 30% in the control group with 95% confidence.

A Case-Control Study to Evaluate Environmental and Lifestyle Risk Factors for Esophageal Cancer in Tanzania.

Background: East Africa is affected by a disproportionately high burden of esophageal squamous cell carcinoma (ESCC).

Methods: We conducted an incident case-control study in Dar es Salaam, Tanzania with 1:1 matching for gender and age. A questionnaire evaluated known and putative risk factors for ESCC.

Patient's characteristics, management practices and outcome of re-laparotomies in a tertiary hospital in Tanzania.

Background: Relaparotomy is an important indicator of the safety and quality of laparotomy in any surgical setting. Despite this, its measure in many low- and middle-income countries is scarce, Tanzania included. Understanding its existence will help curb it and mitigate its adverse outcomes by systematic improvement strategies.