Pattern of childhood malignant tumors at a teaching hospital in Kano, Northern Nigeria: A prospective study.

Background: Childhood cancers represent an important global public health problem. Survival is still dismal in most low income countries. Materials and Methods: A prospective study of childhood cancers diagnosed at AKTH, Kano was undertaken from January 2003 to December 2009 to determine the pattern, socio-economic and geographical features. Results: Malignant lymphomas constituted 46.5% of all cases, of which 30.1% were Burkitt's lymphoma, 9.8% were Non-Hodgkin (non Burkitt's) lymphoma and 6.6% were Hodgkin lymphoma. Retinoblastoma was the second most common malignancy constituting 15.2% of all cases, followed by Nephroblastoma 12.5% and acute leukemia's accounted for 14.1% of all cases. Others were Neuroblastoma 5.5%, Rhabdomyosarcoma 1.9% and CNS and Hepatissc tumors 4.3%. About 80% of parents of these children are very poor and could not afford the cost of treatment. Fifty one percent of the patients were alive at 12 months and the mortality was 24%. Conclusion: Childhood cancer is common in Kano. Free treatment is what is required since majority of the parents could not afford the cost of treatment.

Audit of Histopathology Reports for Breast Cancer in Aminu Kano Teaching Hospital

BACKGROUND: The usefulness of histopathology reports is a function of the quality of information contained therein. Thus there is need to establish minimum criteria to be met in reporting cases as a quality control mechanism. OBJECTIVE: To audit the quality of histopathology reports of mastectomy specimens received in the pathology laboratory of a Teaching Hospital. METHODS: Laboratory numbers of all cancer bearing mastectomy cases received in 10 years (1999-2008) were extracted from pathology reception registers and their accompanying original request cards were retrieved from archives. From these cards relevant information meeting six set audit criteria and average turn around times were determined and analysed. RESULTS: One hundred and sixty-five mastectomy cases were received but archival retrieval was possible for only 134 (81.2) cases. The reports documented tumour size; macroscopic resection margin; histological tumour type; histological grading; lymphatic/vascular invasion characterized by invasion of tumour cells into lymphatic vessels; arteries or more importantly veins; and microscopic resection margin. These were documented in 50; 62; 92; 40; 12and 64of cases respectively. Average turn around time was 15.8 days. Only three (2.2) of the reports met all the six criteria. CONCLUSION: This 10-year audit shows the lapses in our histopathology reports and the need for establishment of standard report formats as tools for quality assurance