Histopathological Types of Breast Cancer in Nigerian Women: A 12-Year Review (1993-2004)

To determine the commonest histological types of breast cancer in Nigeria women in Edo State and the mean age at diagnosis, we reviewed the histological slides of breast cancer received in the pathology department of University of Benin Teaching Hospital over a twelve-year period (January1993-December 2004). The clinical data was obtained from the original request form and case notes where necessary. The mean age of the patients was 45.7 (SD= 13.4, SEM=0.7). Invasive ductal carcinoma (not otherwise specified) constituted the majority of breast cancer accounting for 75.5% while papillary carcinoma was the least common (2.7%). Ductal carcinoma in situ accounted for 6.6%. Breast cancer occur more on the left (53.3%) than the right (45.7%). Bilateral breast cancer was found in only 0.8% of the cases. The frequency of invasive breast cancer is still very high among Nigerian women. Late presentation possible due to ignorance, alternative medicine and fear of surgery may account for this high prevalence. African Journal of Reproductive Health Vol. 10 (1) 2006: pp. 71-7

Cutaneous Horns in an African Population

Background : Cutaneous horns are hard, yellowish gray cornified skin growths. They are more common in white races and believed to be rare in Africans. There are few case reports of the lesion in African populations in the English literature. Materials and Methods : This report documents six patients with this lesion seen over a fourteen month period. There were three males and three females, aged 22 to 62 (mean= 47). Results : One lesion was on the scalp, the remaining on the extremities. The underlying pathologies were squamous cell carcinoma (1), Kaposi sarcoma (1), cutaneous myxoma (1), eccrine poroma (1) and the remaining two showed only chronic inflammatory changes with subepidermal lymphocytic and macrophage cell infiltrates. Conclusion : Unless cases are well documented, the perception of rarity in Africans will most likely persist. The risk of underling malignancy underscores the need for detailed evaluation and prompt management

Histopathological Pattern of Orbito Ocular Malignancy in a Teaching Hospital in Southern Nigeria

Background: There is variation in the prevalence of orbitoocular malignancies in different parts of the world. Information on the frequency and pattern of orbito-ocular tumours in Benin City is scanty.Objective: To study the frequencies and histopathological spectrum of orbito-ocular malignancies in a teaching hospital in the southern part of Nigeria.Methods: The case records of all malignant orbito-ocular malignancies diagnosed during a10 year period, from 2002 through to 2011 were taken for the study. The clinical and histopathological details were noted. These were compared to reports from the rest ofNigeria and other countries.Results: A total number of 105orbito - ocular lesions were diagnosed during the study period. Malignant tumours of the eye accounted for 33 (31.4%) of all ocular biopsies/samples and 1% of all malignancies. The age range was between 1 and 80 years.Squamous cell carcinoma (n=12) and retinoblastoma (n=12) accounted formajority (76%) of all the orbito-occular malignancies. While 99.7% of retinoblastoma occurred in children less than 9 years of age, 66.7% of squamous cell carcinoma occurred in people between the age range 20 and 39 years. Malignant melanoma accounted for 3(9.1%) of the cases and it was the third major type of orbito-ocular neoplasm. Squamous cell carcinoma affected males and females equally. There was a slight female preponderance in retinoblastoma with a F : M ratio of 1.4:1. Malignant melanoma, squamous cell carcinoma insitu, lymphoma and rhabdomyosarcoma were found in males only.Lesions affecting the eyeball were 54.5%, while lesions of the conjunctiva accounted for 36.4%, eyelid 6.1% and orbit 1%.Conclusion: In conclusion, orbito-ocular malignancies are rare and squamous cell carcinoma and retinoblastoma are the commonest orbito-ocular malignancies in Benin City, Nigeria.Keywords:orbito-ocular, malignancy, retinoblastoma, melanoma, eyebal

Occlusion intestinale causée par le tératome kystique ovarien bilatéral chez une femme enceint : Rapport d’un cas.

Teratoma is the most common ovarian tumour associated with pregnancy. The complications in pregnancy include torsion, rupture and malignant transformation mimicking ovarian carcinoma. Its association with intestinal obstruction is uncommon. Case: A 35 year old gravida 5 para 4 woman with 18 week gestation was referred to our hospital with a 2 week history of abdominal pain, abdominal distension and vomiting. Initial physical examination and ultrasound scan showed bilateral ovarian masses and intrauterine singleton viable pregnancy. At surgery the right mass was observed to be adherent to a part of the small intestine. The masses were excised and confirmed grossly and histologically as benign cystic teratoma. She was well and discharged nine days post operatively. The pregnancy was managed conservatively and she was delivered of a normal male baby at term by spontaneous vertex delivery. Although intestinal obstruction due to benign cystic teratoma in pregnancy is uncommon, abrupt surgical intervention and conservative management is important for favourable outcomeLe tératome est la tumeur de l’ovaire la plus commune liée à la grossesse. Les complications dans la grossesse comprennent la torsion, la rupture et la transformation maligne qui cherche à imiter le cancer ovarien. Son association avec l’occlusion intestinale n’est pas commune : Le cas A : Une femme enceinte (gravide 5, 4ème pare) avec 18 semaines de gestation a été orientée vers notre hôpital avec une histoire d’une douleur abdominale, une distension abdominale et le vomissement. L’examen physique initial et l’examen par l’échographie ont montré des masses ovariennes bilatérales et une grossesse viable d’intra-utérine simple. Pendant la chirurgie, on a constaté que la masse à droite était adhérée à une partie de l’intestin. Les masses ont été excisées et ont été confirmées comme étant largement et histologiquement un tératome kystique bénin. Elle s’est bien rétablie et a été renvoyé de l’hôpital neuf jours après l’opération chirurgicale. Nous avons pris en charge la grossesse de manière conservatrice et elle a accouché d’ un garçon normal à terme à travers une présentation du sommet. Bien que l’occlusion intestinale causée par le tératome kystique bénigne pendant la grossesse n’est pas commune, il faut une intervention brusque et un traitement conservateur pour réaliser de bons résultat

Immunohistochemical studies of codeine medication on the prefrontal cortex and cerebellum of adult Wistar rats

Despite the dangers associated with the increased use of prescription opioid drugs, limited researches have addressed the specific effects of prescription opioids on the brain. The objective of this study was to assess the effects of codeine medication on the prefrontal cortex and cerebellum of Wistar rats. The drugs, ArchilinTM with codeine syrup and Dihydrocodeine 30 mg tablets were used for this study. Thirty (30) male Wistar rats were divided into 5 groups labeled A, B, C, D, and E, n = 6. Group A served as control and was given normal saline, group B was treated with 1 mg/kg bodyweight dihydrocodeine, group C was treated with 2 mg/kg bodyweight dihydrocodeine, group D was treated with 2 ml/kg bodyweight ArchilinTM with codeine syrup and group E was treated with 4 ml/kg bodyweight ArchilinTM with codeine syrup. Drugs were administered orally and daily for 21 days. At the end of the treatment period, animals were sacrificed via intraperitoneal injection of ketamine hydrochloride, brains were perfused with phosphate-buffered saline and formal saline before harvested and postfixed in 10% neutral buffered formalin. Sections of the prefrontal cortex and cerebellum were obtained and processed for immunohistochemical studies using GFAP stain. Results from the study suggested that prolonged administration of codeine medication produced an inflammatory reaction in the prefrontal cortex and cerebellum of treatment groups. This neuroinflammatory reaction is an indicator of a pathologic process that could lead to neuronal degeneration, glial degeneration, and altered physiologic process in the prefrontal cortex and cerebellum