Clinico-pathological review of malignant gastric tumours in Lagos, Nigeria

Gastric cancer is one of the most common cancers and the 2d most common cause of cancer deaths worldwide. Contrary to earlier reports from Africa;prevalence of this cancer has been found to be comparable to that of other parts of the world.To describe the clinico-pathological features of gastric cancer diagnosed in Lagos and determine the prevalence of H. pylori infection in gastric adenocarcinoma.This was a retrospective histopathological study of all gastric cancer seen between 1995 and 2007 in the Morbid Anatomy Department of Lagos University Teaching Hospital as well as two other private histopathology laboratories in Lagos (2002-2007). The blocks and slides of gastric cancer tissue were the materials used for the study. The patients' bio data and relevant clinical details were extracted from the demographic records.There were 105 cases of gastric cancer (M:F = 2:1; mean age-55.3 years); 81of which occurred above 45 yrs. There were 95 cases (90) of adenocarcinomas; 8 (7.6) mesenchymal tumours with one case each of small cell non-Hodgkin's lymphoma and carcinoid tumour. H. pylori was detected in 15.5of 45 cases of adenocarcinoma with 36 showing evidence of chronic gastritis in adjacent non cancerous gastric tissue. All patients with clinical data had one or more alarm features; most recurring being abdominal fullness; recurrent vomiting; anorexia and weight loss.This study suggests that gastric malignancies are not uncommon in Lagos and often manifest with alarm features which should raise a suspicion particularly in our setting with poor diagnostic endoscopic facilities

Post irradiation hearing loss in head/neck patients in Lagos; Nigeria

A prospective study was conducted at Lagos University Teaching Hospital on patients with malignancies of the head and neck region treated with external beam irradiation type and severity of hearing loss. Each patient had a preirradiation and post irradiation pure tone audiogram at 3 weeks; 8 weeks and 6 months. Following completion of radiotherapy serial post irradiation audiogram threshold was compared with pre-treatment threshold. An increase of 10 dB HL (decibel hearing level) or greater was considered significant. Radiation dose ranged from 45-55Gy in twenty to twenty-five fractions per weeks over four to five weeks treatment. Patients that received chemotherapy as adjunctive to therapy during the period of the study were excluded. A total of 40 patients (80 ears) completed the audiological follow up out of ninety four patients seen during the study period .Age ranged between 4-79 years. The tumor site distribution showed 20