Background: The collection of data on cancers is essential to assess their importance in a population and plan control strategies. In Benin as in many sub-Saharan Africa countries, cancer data are often not well informed. Purpose: To study the epidemiological and anatomopathological profiles of head and neck cancers. Methods: This was a descriptive cross-sectional study of head and neck cancers in Benin from January 2009 to 31 December 2014. These tumours were collected in the registers of the 5 anatomy-pathological laboratories in Benin as well as in that of the only hospital in the country that sends its requests for histological examination abroad. Results: During the period, 611 cases of head and neck tumour were reported, including 298 malignant cases, or 48.8%. The average age was 45.3 ± 18.7 years (extremes: 1 year and 91 years) with a maximum of cases between 50 and 60 years (19.1%). The sex ratio was 1.2. The cancers occurred mainly in the pharynx (27.9%), the oral cavity (19.8%), the nose, sinuses and jaws (18.1%), the thyroid (12.8%), the salivary glands (8.7%) and the larynx (8.4%). They were of epithelial origin in 79.5% of cases, mainly squamous cell carcinomas (50.3%) and lymphomas in 12.8% of cases. Conclusion: Head and neck cancer is preventable. A special place should be given to the fight against cancer in Benin. Strategies to prevent and manage these cancers cannot be put in place without accurate data collection.

Introduction: Goiter often poses aesthetic disgrace problem. The psychosocial impacts of goiter, in particular in woman may be significant. Objective: studying the psychological and social impacts of the disease in goiter patients within the African context and their consequences on the treatment. Methods: It was a transversal study that took place from May 1to July 31, 2011 in the Collines and Donga departments situated in the center and the north of Benin. The study consisted of a survey conducted through an individual discussion based on questionnaire submitted to goiter patients who accepted to provide their answers. Results: This survey involved 86 patients of which 83 women and 3 men. Their average age was 43.7 ± 13.41. Goiter was noticeable in the totality of the patients. 68.6% of patients declared that they experienced on daily basis the shame caused by the disease. 66% thought that it was a natural disease; however, 27.9% believed that it was caused by bewitchment or sorcery. 46.5% and 37.2% resorted to modern and indigenous medicine respectively; 16.3% made no therapeutic move. Despite the psychosocial impacts of the disease, 50% of the patients rejected surgical intervention possibility. The core motives they raised were lack of financial means (34.8%), disease recurrence fright (23.3%), anesthesia fright (16.3%), and surgical fright (14%). Conclusion: Despite the psychological impacts of the disease, strong resistance exists probably more on cultural aspect than the motives mentioned by thyroidectomy patients.

Introduction: Presbycusis or age-related hearing loss is a condition of insidious onset with significant socio-professional repercussions. The objective of this study was to determine the impact and factors associated with presbycusis among 50 years aged people or older in Parakou commune during 2021. Methods: This was a cross-sectional, descriptive, analytical study with prospective data collection. The study has involved 541 50 years aged people or older, from February to May 2021. For each of them, a questionnaire was completed, otoscopy and tone audiometry performed. The ERSA questionnaire and the logistic regression model were used to determine the impact and factors associated with presbycusis. Results: The mean age was 59.48 ± 9.80 years and the sex ratio was 1.23. The prevalence of presbycusis was 50.28%. Age ≥ 80 years (p = 0.002), male sex (p = 0.016), low educational level (p = 0.001), family history of age-related hearing loss (p = 0.018) and presence of hearing loss (p = 0.001) were significantly associated with presbycusis in multivariate analysis. Of the life domains studied, personal life (mean score = 32.9 ± 10.52) was the most affected. Similarly, communication in a noisy environment (mean score = 4.39 ± 2.39) was the most affected aspect of personal life. Conclusion: Presbycusis leads to an impairment of personal life. A good knowledge of the associated factors and an early management could contribute to the improvement of the hearing health of the elderly.

Objective: This research work aims to investigate the epidemiological and anatomopathological characteristics of ENT and head and neck tumors among children in Benin. Materials and methods: It was a cross-sectional and descriptive study carried out from January 1, 2009 to December 31, 2014. It was focused on all the reports of anatomopathological examinations of ENT, head and neck tissue mass among subjects aged no more than 15years identified in Benin and whose histological diagnosis was a tumor. Findings: Among a total of 611ear, nose-& throat (ENT), head and neck tumors colligated, 100 were about children (16.4%). These were 23 cases of malignant tumors and 77 cases of benign tumors. Sex ratio was 1.3 for all the tumors; it was 1.1 for benign tumors and 2.3 for malignant tumors. Cancers were primarily located in the pharynx with 9 cases out of 23, followed by 7 cases in nose and maxillary sinus. Benign tumors were mainly related to nose and maxillary sinus with 30 cases (39% of benign tumors) and larynx with 24cases (31.2%). Various histological types were investigated. As regards cancers, they were mainly squamous cell carcinoma cancers (8 cases out of 23 cancers); and benign tumors were mainly papilloma (46.8%) followed by fibroma (16.9%) and hemangioma (13%). Conclusion: The predominance of papillomas suggests the possibility of prevention due to the important role of human papillonavirus (HPV) in their genesis.

<p class="abstract"><strong>Background:</strong> The objective of the study was to study the epidemiological profile of malignant tumours of the oral cavity in Benin from January 2009 to 31 December 2014.</p><p class="abstract"><strong>Methods:</strong> This was a descriptive cross-sectional study that examined cancers of the oral cavity collected in the registers of the 5 anatomy and pathology laboratories in Benin as well as the only hospital in the country that sends its requests for histological examinations abroad.  </p><p class="abstract"><strong>Results:</strong> With a rate of 19.8%, oral cavity cancer was the most frequent cancer localization in the ENT, head and neck sphere in Benin. The most frequent sites of cancers in the oral cavity were the palate (32.2%) followed by the tongue (25.4%) and the inner face of the cheeks (16.9%). The average age of the patients was 53.18±20.60 years with extremes of 1 year and 90 years. The sex ratio was 0.90. Squamous cell carcinoma was the most common histological type with 67.80%.</p><p class="abstract"><strong>Conclusions:</strong> Cancer of the oral cavity must be a priority for health authorities in Benin. Research must be initiated to determine the factors that contribute to it.</p>