ABSTRACT
OBJECTIVE: Ovarian cancer in Black women is common in many West African countries but is relatively rare in North America. Black women have worse survival outcomes when compared to White women. Ovarian cancer histotype, diagnosis, and age at presentation are known prognostic factors for outcome. We sought to conduct a preliminary comparative assessment of these factors across the African diaspora. METHODS: Patients diagnosed with ovarian cancer (all histologies) between June 2016-December 2019 in Departments of Pathology at 25 participating sites in Nigeria were identified. Comparative population-based data, inclusive of Caribbean-born Blacks (CBB) and US-born Blacks (USB), were additionally captured from the International Agency for Research on Cancer and Florida Cancer Data Systems. Histology, country of birth, and age at diagnosis data were collected and evaluated across the three subgroups: USB, CBB and Nigerians. Statistical analyses were done using chi-square and student's t-test with significance set at p<0.05. RESULTS: Nigerians had the highest proportion of germ cell tumor (GCT, 11.5%) and sex-cord stromal (SCST, 16.2%) ovarian cancers relative to CBB and USB (p=0.001). CBB (79.4%) and USB (77.3%) women were diagnosed with a larger proportion of serous ovarian cancer than Nigerians (60.4%) (p<0.0001). Nigerians were diagnosed with epithelial ovarian cancers at the youngest age (51.7± 12.8 years) relative to USB (58.9 ± 15.0) and CBB (59.0± 13.0,p<0.001). Black women [CBB (25.2 ± 15.0), Nigerians (29.5 ± 15.1), and USB (33.9 ± 17.9)] were diagnosed with GCT younger than White women (35.4 ± 20.5, p=0.011). Black women [Nigerians (47.5 ± 15.9), USB (50.9 ± 18.3) and CBB (50.9 ± 18.3)] were also diagnosed with SCST younger than White women (55.6 ± 16.5, p<0.01). CONCLUSION: There is significant variation in age of diagnosis and distribution of ovarian cancer histotype/diagnosis across the African diaspora. The etiology of these findings requires further investigation.
ABSTRACT
INTRODUCTION: Neuronavigation has become a standard of care in contemporary neurosurgery since more than two decades and is gradually being embraced in our local practice. It is, therefore, important to share our local experience, including practical challenges encountered with this technology. AIMS AND OBJECTIVES: The aim of this study is to review and present our early experience with stealth neuronavigation and to discuss the practical challenges encountered with the application of this technology in this environment. METHODOLOGY: Retrospective review of all consecutive cases over a 3-year period (January 2016-December 2018). Admitting diagnosis, operations, histological diagnosis, adjuvant treatments and 6 months outcome were the major study parameters. Procedural challenges were also highlighted. Data were analysed using simple descriptive statistics, and results were presented in tables and figures. RESULTS: A total of 30 procedures were conducted. Nineteen males and 11 females (male: female = 1.7:1). Youngest was 8 months, oldest was 71 years, mean = 39 and standard deviation (SD) = 19.3. Operations performed were resection of mass lesion 18/30 (60%) and biopsy of mass lesion in 12/30 (40%) cases. Histological diagnostic yield was 100%. Mean duration of hospital stay was 2 days (SD = 0.25) for the biopsy group and 8 days (SD = 1.7) for the resection group. At 6 months review, 10/30 (33.3%) have died following progression and/or complications of their primary pathology. CONCLUSIONS: Wide spectrum of brain lesions were approached confidently with precision and minimal morbidity. No procedure-related mortality was recorded. Adjuvant treatments were easily deployed in line with a precise histological diagnosis. Practical challenges did not compromise the navigation process.
