Distribution and characteristics of endometriotic lesions in south- western Nigeria: a single institutional experience

Background: Endometriosis poses a significant burden mainly to women of child bearing age. Historically, endometriosis was thought to be of low prevalence among African women. However, recent studies have documented an increased prevalence than previously thought. This study aimed to determine the distribution and characteristics of endometriotic lesions among Nigerian women.Methods: A retrospective study of all histologically diagnosed cases of endometriosis from the records of the Department of Pathology, University College Hospital, Ibadan from 1st January, 1997 to 31st October, 2018.The age of the women, location and distribution of the lesions were analysed.Results: A total of 85 cases of endometriosis were diagnosed histologically in the period under review. The mean age was 35 years with an age range of 18 to 52 years. The most commonly affected age groups were those between 30-39 years (47.1%) and 20-29 years (30.6%). The most commonly affected site was the ovary (58.8%) followed by the umbilicus (11.9%) and fallopian tubes (9.4%). Fourteen patients (28%) had bilateral ovarian involvement. Left sided ovarian lesions predominated (61.1% versus 38.9%). Eighteen (21.2%) patients had lesions at more than one site frequently involving both ovaries.Conclusion: Endometriosis affected mainly women of childbearing age with particular predilection for the ovaries. Endometriosis affecting the umbilicus is not uncommon among Nigerian women.Keywords: Endometriosis, Ibadan, Nigeria, ovary, umbilicu

Nasopharyngeal carcinoma in Ibadan, Nigeria: a clinicopathologic study

Introduction: nasopharyngeal carcinoma is relatively common in our environment. It is one of the most difficult malignancies to diagnose at an early stage. The aim of the study was to determine the clinical features, clinical disease stage of nasopharyngeal carcinoma at presentation and at diagnosis as well as the histologic types at the University College Hospital, Ibadan, Nigeria. Methods: this was a ten year retrospective study of all histologically confirmed nasopharyngeal carcinoma between January 2007 to December 2016 using clinical and pathology records and files. Results: there were 73 cases. The male: female ratio was 1.7. The age of patients ranged from 12 to 80 years with a mean age of 39 ± 16 years. The median age at diagnosis was 40 years. The peak age group of occurrence was 40-49 years. The most common symptoms were namely epistaxis in 67.1% of patients at presentation, neck mass/swelling (64.4%) and nasal mass/obstruction (63.0%). Majority (54.8%) of the patients presented late with stage 3 or 4 disease. Most (94.5%) of the tumours were of the non-keratinizing squamous cell carcinoma subtype. The keratinizing and basaloid variants accounted for 4.1% and 1.4% of the tumours respectively. Conclusion: vague, non-specific symptoms make patients present at late stages of the disease, making it almost impossible to attempt cure. The dominant histopathological type is non-keratinizing squamous cell carcinoma and resembles that seen in most parts of Nigeria and endemic areas of the world