Histo-Pathological Features of Primary Ovarian Tumours Managed in a Tertiary Hospital; Sokoto

ABSTRACT

Background: Ovarian tumours are the 2nd most common female genital tract tumour in Sokoto; northwestern; Nigeria. We determined the histo-pathological features of surgically removed ovarian tumours. Methods: A 12-year retrospective study of all surgically removed ovarian tumours at the Gynaecological department of Usmanu Danfodiyo University Teaching Hospital UDUTH) Sokoto; North- Western Nigeria. Results: The highest incidence of ovarian tumours was within the age range of 20-45 years. Of the 125 cases of surgically removed neoplastic ovarian tumours seen during the study period; 83(66.4) were benign; 40(22.4) were malignant and 2(1.6) were of borderline malignancy. Epithelial tumours were the commonest neoplasms 54(43.2); while germ cell tumours were present in 47(37.6) cases. Mucinous cystadenocarcinoma was the ommonest malignant ovarian tumour 14(35) and was closely followed by granulosa cell tumour 10(25); dysgerminoma 17.5); serous cystadenocarcinoma (12.5); malignant teratoma 2(5) and endodermal sinus tumour (5). There were 2 cases of metastatic tumours one from Burkitts lymphoma; and the other from gestational choriocarcinoma. Conclusion: The high frequency of malignant ovarian tumours in the young age group type in this study underscores the need for histology of all surgically removed tumours irrespective of age