Title:
Cases of Small Cell Neuro-Endocrine Cancer of the Cervix Increasing in Incidence in Early Onset Cancers in HIV Negative Young Women in Western Kenya – A Case Study of Jaramogi Oginga Odinga Teaching and Referral Hospital

Authors:
Arthur Ajwang, MBChB; George Ogutu, MMed, MBChB; Khama Rogo, PhD, MMed, MBChB;, MBChB; Shem Otoi, PhD-Stats; Benson Estambale, PhD, MPH, MBChB, Kenya

Abstract:

Background: Small cell neuro-endocrine carcinoma of the cervix (SCNEC) is a rare histological subtype, characterized by a higher incidence of lymphatic invasion, metastasis, and recurrence compared to the squamous cell carcinoma and adenocarcinoma subtypes. Early onset cancers (cancers developed <50 years old) incidence has increased in the developed countries, but has not been reported in the low and middle income countries as much.

Objective: This study aimed to explore the increase in incidences of early onset advanced cervical cancer in young HIV Negative women and the histological subtypes, presenting at the Oncology Clinic of the hospital.

Methodology: A mixed method study was undertaken of purposively recruited HIV negative patients, aged 13-35 years, presenting with Cancer of the Cervix in the 2020-2021 period of study.

Findings: There is a significant increase in Early Onset Cancer of the Cervix in the Prospective arm (2020-2021) with P-value 0.017 at CI (2.562, 18.938) as compared to the Retrospective arm (2012-2019) with P-value 0.012 at CI (1.921, 11.079), with 8.2% being of small cell Neuro-Endocrine histological type.

Conclusion: The study concluded that incidences of Small Cell Neuro-Endocrine Cancer of the cervix histological type is increasing with the incidences of Early Onset Cervical Cancer in HIV Negative young women in Western Kenya.

DOI: http://dx.doi.org/10.51505/ijmshr.2025.9211