Emerging trends in the immunohistochemical characteristics of breast carcinomas in Uyo: A Niger-Delta region of Nigeria and a review of the literature

Background: The quality of histological and immunohistochemical techniques dictate their usefulness in accurate diagnosis of breast cancer. Objectives: The study was set up to evaluate estrogen receptor (ER), progesterone receptor (PR), and human epidermal growth factor receptor-2 (HER2/neu) expressions in breast carcinomas by immunohistochemistry as well as ascertaining the correlation of these tumor markers with each other and their relationship with the ages of the patients in Uyo, a Niger-Delta region of Nigeria. Materials and Methods: A descriptive cross-sectional study using formalin-fixed paraffin-embedded tissue blocks of histologically confirmed cases of breast carcinomas over 5 years subjected to immunohistochemical analysis for ER, PR, and HER-2 as well as ascertaining correlation of these tumor markers with each other and their relationship with the ages of the patients were undertaken. Results: A total of 158 cases were analyzed. The mean age at diagnosis was 42.5 ± 3.5 years and the frequency of breast carcinoma peaked at the 41–50 years of age group and accounted for 42.4%. Invasive ductal carcinoma was the predominant tumor pattern (86.7%), with no special type (90.5%) and Grade 2 (56.9%) being the predominant characteristics. ER, PR, and HER-2 receptors were positive in 51.3%, 42.4%, and 12.0% of breast carcinomas, respectively. A subtype analysis of tumors showed that 48.7% were triple negative, peaking at the 31–40 years of age group with 51.3%. Positive correlation between ER, PR, and HER-2/neu as well as between tumor markers and patients' ages was recorded. Conclusion: Triple-negative breast carcinoma is still the predominant breast cancer subtype and occurs frequently in the 3rd decade of life

Pediatric Gastrointestinal Diseases in Nigeria: Histopathologic Analysis of 74 Cases

BACKGROUND: Children are vulnerable to a vast number of diseases including gastrointestinal disorders, which may be associated with life threatening complications that sometimes result in mortality especially if left untreated. OBJECTIVE: To establish the age and sex distribution of children in the study population as well as the histopathological characteristics of gastrointestinal diseases that occurred in those children who were aged 14years and below in Sagamu, Southwestern Nigeria. MATERIALS AND METHODS: Demographic data such as age, sex, and clinical summary of children in the study population were extracted from the medical records of Olabisi Onabanjo University Teaching Hospital, Sagamu, Ogun State from January 2003 to December 2009. Based on this information, a review of paraffin embedded blocks and slides as well as histopathological reports of gastrointestinal diseases that occurred in those children aged 14years and below was undertaken at the Morbid Anatomy Department of the hospital. RESULTS: Seventy–four cases of gastrointestinal diseases were seen in children aged 14years and below. The majority (39.2%) of gastrointestinal diseases were accounted for by appendiceal lesions. Hirschsprung’s disease, intussusceptions, enterocolitis and jejunal atresia accounted for 29.7%, 10.8%, 6.8% and 4.1% of cases respectively. Adenocarcinoma of the intestine was the predominant gastrointestinal tumour, occurring in 5 out of 7 children. Two cases of non-Hodgkin lymphoma were also seen. The ages of the children ranged from 2 to 14 years, with a mean age of 8.6years and a peak age incidence of gastrointestinal disease in the 10-14year age group. Male children were more commonly affected with the exception of appendiceal lesions, which occurred more in females (M:F ratio= 1.6:1.0). Acute suppurative appendicitis was the most prevalent lesion of the appendix, occurring in 13 out of 29 appendiceal lesions. Moderately differentiated to poorly differentiated histological types were seen in the tumours- 3 adenocarcinomas and 2 mucinous carcinomas. Burkitt’s and Mucosal-associated types of non– Hodgkin lymphomas were the two histological types of lymphoma seen primarily in the stomach and small intestine respectively. CONCLUSION: Appendiceal lesion was the predominant paediatric gastrointestinal disease found in the study population with preponderance for female children. Adenocarcinoma was the most common gastrointestinal tumour found, while, Hirschsprung’s disease, intussusception, enterocolitis, jejunal atresia and non-Hodgkin lymphoma contributed to only a minority of the gastrointestinal diseases found in the study population. [J Interdiscipl Histopathol 2013; 1(5.000): 261-266

Histopathological and immunohistochemical characteristics of breast carcinomas in Uyo, subtropical region of Africa

Background: There is a relative dearth of data for immunohistochemical characteristics of breast carcinomas in cancer registries of Nigeria and some parts of Africa. A descriptive hospital based study, done over a year, involving three hospitals in Uyo rendering breast cancer care.Objective: To determine the immunohisto chemical-expression pattern of oestrogen receptor, progesterone receptor, and human epidermal receptor 2 and their relationship with histopathological features of invasive breast carcinomas in Uyo, Akwa Ibom State.Materials and methods: Each specimen with an accompanying completely filled coded proforma form containing clinical characteristics of patients with breast cancer was received at the Histopathology Department for subsequent histopathological and immunohistochemical analysis.Results: The age range for patients with breast carcinoma was 23 -70 years with a mean age at presentation of43.07 ± 11.19 years. Invasive ductal carcinoma was the commonest histological type accounting for 86.9 % of all breast cancer. Positivity for oestrogen receptors, progesterone receptors and Her-2 were seen in 18.0 %, 14.8 % and 32.8 % of breast carcinomas respectively. Majority of breast carcinomas were triple negative phenotype (62.3 %).Conclusion: Majority of the invasive breast carcinomas in our environment were triple negative phenotype (62.3 %).Keywords: Histopathological, Immunohistochemical Characteristics, Breast cancer, Uy

Colorectal carcinoma in Lagos and Sagamu, Southwest Nigeria: A histopathological review

AIM: To study the frequency, gender and age distribution as well as pathological characteristics of colorectal carcinoma (CRC) in Lagos and Sagamu in SW Nigeria

An Assessment of Ovarian Cancer Histotypes Across the African Diaspora

ObjectiveOvarian 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. MethodsPatients 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 pResultsNigerians 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). ConclusionThere 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