Histopathological Pattern of Cervical Cancer in Benin City; Nigeria

Background: Cervical cancer is the second most frequent malignancy and a preventable cause of mortality and morbidity in females. Objective: The objective was to describe the relative frequency; pattern; and histological types of cervical cancer in a teaching hospital in South-South Nigeria. Materials and Methods: All histologically diagnosed cases of cervical cancer seen over a 10-year period in the Department of Pathology; University of Benin Teaching Hospital; Benin City; Nigeria were reviewed to determine their histopathological patterns. Results: Four hundred and six cases of cervical cancer accounting for 30.3% of cancers in females and 62.9% of female genital tract malignancies respectively were seen during the 10-year study period. The ages of patients with cervical cancer which ranged between 18 and 99 years with a mean of 51.5 years (standard deviation = 12.8); with most frequent occurrence in 50-59 years age group. Squamous cell carcinoma was the most predominant subtype comprising 84.2% of cases while adenocarcinoma constituted 11.8%. Adenoid cystic carcinoma; adenosquamous carcinoma and metastatic carcinoma accounted for 2.0%; 0.8%; and 1.2% of cases respectively. Conclusion: The relative frequency of cancer of the cervix is high in Benin City; and this should necessitate attention to effective cervical cancer screening to increase detection of preinvasive lesions which in turn will decrease the frequency of cervical cancer

Cervical Squamous Intraepitherial Lesions at King Faisal Hospital: A Systematic Review: April 2009 - April 2011

Background: The cervical cancer is the most common cause of mortality with cancer among women in developing countries. Cervical screening tests are used to detect precancerous lesions in various stages of development when they can be treated. Screening for cervical cancer involves women who are at risk for cervical cancer but have no current signs; symptoms or complaints referable to the cervix; or have no previous abnormal Pap smear and have no high risk factors for cervical cancer. This retrospection study was to review cervical smears evaluated in 24 months and squamous intraepithelial lesions detected among the 1;673 cases studied. Methods: Ethanol and spray fixed cervical smears were received by the laboratory from the outpatients department at King Faisal Hospital and from collaborating institutions. The smears were stained by Papanicolaou method and evaluated on the light microscope. 1;673 smears were selected for this study. Results: There were 19 (19/1673) squamous intraepithelial lesions of various grades. 7 (7/19) were low grade squamous intraepithelial (LS1Ls); 11 (11/19) were high grade squamous intraepithelial lesions (HSILs) and 1 (1/19) was adenocarcinoma. 5 (5/19) lesions were associated with human papillomavirus (HPV) infection. Conclusion: This review shows a low incidence of cervical squamous intraepithelial lesions due to the high cost of the test in a high cost health care institution; hence the small number of risky women accessing the test. A bigger study to include a spectrum of all risky women is required

Carcinoma of the Cervix in Sokoto, Northern Nigeria

Background: Cancer of the cervix, a preventable disease, is the second most common cause of cancer-related morbidity and mortality in women in the developing world. Experience of the disease in Sokoto is lacking in the literature. The aim of this study is to determine the demographic characteristics, clinical features, stage of the disease at presentation and outcome in cases of carcinoma of the cervix in the Usmanu Danfodiyo University Teaching Hospital(UDUTH), Sokoto. Materials and Methods: A descriptive retrospective study of all patients diagnosed with carcinoma of the cervix between January 1998 and December 2003 at UDUTH, Sokoto. Results: There were 100 cases of carcinoma of the cervix during the 6-year study period. The peak age incidence was in the 50-59 year age group(30), and mean age was 48 years. Parity ranged from 0 to 13. Sixty-seven percent(67) of patients were Para 5 and above. The main clinical features were irregular vaginal bleeding, postmenopausal bleeding, offensive vaginal discharge and abdominal/pelvic pain. Eighty-nine percent (89) of patients presented in advanced stages of the disease(Stage IIb to IV). Most patients were not able to receive radiotherapy and were lost to follow-up. Conclusions: Carcinoma of the cervix in Sokoto is a disease of grandmultiparous women who usually present at the advanced stages. Prognosis is poor due to late presentation and inability to afford the cost of radiotherapy. It is recommended that measures to prevent carcinoma of the cervix must be put in place, chief amongst which is the implementation of a population-based screening programme