Triple-negative breast cancer among ghanaian women seen at Korle-Bu teaching hospital

Background. Women with African ancestry in the United States and in continental Africa have been found to have exceptionally increased frequencies of triple-negative breast cancer (TNBC); prompting speculation that this risk may have an inherited basis and may at least partially explain breast cancer outcome disparities related to racial/ethnic identity. Our goal was to evaluate the breast cancers diagnosed in one of the largest health care facilities in western Africa; and to compare the frequencies as well as risk factors for TNBC versus non-TNBC. Methods. We reviewed all breast cancer cases that had immunohistochemistry (Novolink Detection system); in 2010. Results. The overall study population of 223 breast cancer cases was relatively young (median age 52.4?y); and most had palpable tumors larger than five centimeters in diameter. More than half were TNBC (130 cases; 58.3%). We observed similar frequencies of young age at diagnosis; stage at diagnosis; and tumor grade among cases of TNBC compared to cases of non-TNBC. Conclusion. Ghanaian breast cancer patients tend to have an advanced stage distribution and relatively young age at diagnosis. The triple-negative molecular marker pattern is the most common seen among these women; regardless of age; tumor grade; and stage of diagnosis. Additional research is necessary regarding the causes of TNBC; so that we can elucidate the reasons for its increased prevalence among women with African ancestry

Colorectal Carcinoma: an Update of Current Trends in Accra

BACKGROUND: Clinical experience and earlier studies indicate that the number of colorectal cancer cases seen annually in the Accra metropolis is increasing. OBJECTIVE: This study was aimed at providing a current update on colorectal cancer in Accra; Ghana. METHODS: A prospective study of confirmed cases of colorectal cancer diagnosed from January 1997 - December 2007. RESULTS: Three hundred and fifty-nine colorectal cancer cases were studied. Males were 192(53.5) and females 167(46.5) with an annual incidence of 32.6 new cases. The crude incidence rates were 12.53; 9.87 and 11.18 per 100;000 population for males; females and overall respectively. Rectal bleeding 185(51.1); abdominal mass 76(21.1); intestinal obstruction 62(17.3); intestinal perforation nine (2.5) and iron deficiency anaemia nine (2.5) cases were the main presentations. There were 168 (46.8) rectal and 191(53.2) colon tumours. Two hundred and thirty-one patients had laparotomy with 225 resections; and 128 patients for various reasons did not undergo surgery. The Astler Coller stages of the tumours at diagnosis were C2 84(36.7); C1 53(22.1); B2 49(21.4); D 17(7.4); B1 14(6.1) and A 12(5.1) cases. Adenocarcinoma was the commonest histological type 321(89.4); with the majority either well-differentiated (62.5) or moderately well-differentiated (25.6) carcinomas. Poorly differentiated carcinomas accounted for 28 cases (7.8). Post-operative mortality was 6.1. Long term survival could not be assessed as the majority of patients were lost to follow up. CONCLUSION: The incidence of colorectal cancer has increased over the last four decades in tandem with an aging population of Accra with adenocarcinoma as the predominant histological type