Thyroid Cancers in Nodular Goiters in Kano; Nigeria

Cancer is an occasional incidental finding in nodular goiter; but there has been no formal study on this disease in our locality. To determine the occurrence of histologically diagnosed malignancy in patients who presentwith nodular goiters. This is a 7- year (2000-2006) retrospective study of all histologically diagnosed malignancies within nodular goiters atAminuKanoTeachingHospital;Kano There were 160 multinodular goiters during the study period; out of which 24 (15.0) had histologically diagnosed cancer; and 1 out of the thirteen patients with solitary thyroid nodule (7.6) had carcinoma. The ages of the patients with carcinoma ranged from 16 to 65 years; with amean age of 38.8 years. Eighteen (72) were females; and 7(28) were males. Six out of the 25 cases of carcinoma were detected preoperatively by fine needle aspiration cytology. Well differentiated follicular carcinoma was the predominant histological type in 13(52) cases; followed by papillary in 10(40); medullary carcinoma in 1(4) and anaplastic carcinoma in 1(4) patient. One-seventh of nodular goiters in our center harbouredmalignancy; and follicular carcinomawas the prevalent histological type. This is consistent with the findings elsewhere in endemic goitrous regions. Ultrasound guided fine needle aspirationwould improve preoperative diagnosis and guide appropriate surgical management

Cancer in Nigeria: a 10-year analysis of the Kano Cancer registry

Background: Cancer is a major health problem in developed countries and epidemiological evidence shows the emergence of a similar tend in developing countries; particularly in sub-Saharan Africa where HIV/AIDS is predicted to augment the cancer burden. The present study analyses the profile of cancers recorded in the first decade (1995-2004) of establishment of the Kano cancer registry (KCR) a histology/ cytology-based registry in Kano; Nigeria. Methods: Records of cancer cases diagnosed based on histology or cytology and entered into the registry were retrieved and categorized by type/ organ sites affected according to International Classification of Diseases for Oncology.Results: There was a steady rise in frequency of cancer over the period where a total of 1990 cancer cases were recorded comprising of 1001 (50.3) males and 989 (49.7) females. Cancers of the cervix (22.9); Breast (18.9); Ovary (8.2); non-melanoma skin cancer (6.3); and Uterus (6.2) were the most frequent female cancers. In males; cancer of the prostate (16.5); bladder (10.2); non-melanoma skin (9.9); colorectum (9.3) and connective tissue (6.3) were most common.Burkits lymphoma (31.4); other lymphoreticular cancers (23.8) and retinoblastoma (20) predominated in children. Conclusion: The KCR supports existing predictions of an increase in incidence of cancers in developing countries. There is need for establishment of comprehensive cancer control programmes in developing countries for the common cancers of the cervix; breast; prostate; bladder; skin and colorectum which are amenable to prevention; early detection and cure

Radical Cystectomy for Locally Advanced Carcinoma of the Bladder in Kano; Nigeria

Objective: Bladder cancer is the second most common genito-urinary malignancy worldwide. The objective of this study was to assess the benefit of radical cystectomy on locally advanced bladder carcinoma in terms of improved quality of life and survival in our environment. Patients and Methods : The records of 58 patients with bladder carcinoma managed at Aminu Kano Teaching Hospital over a 5-year period (May 2000 to April 2005) were reviewed and analysed. Excluded were 28 patients with distant metastatic disease discovered during clinical investigation. Results: Thirty patients (25 males and 5 females) with a mean age of 50.5 years and variable symptoms underwent radical cystectomy for locally advanced carcinoma of the bladder. Urinary drainage was achieved by orthotopic ileal neobladder in 15 patients (50); continent cutaneous reservoir in 11 patients (36.7) and non-continent drainage in 4 patients (13.3). A 40survival was achieved at 6-60 months. Conclusion : Radical cystectomy is a worthwhile procedure in locally advanced carcinoma of the bladder and cure may be achieved in selected patients