A histopathological study of carcinoma of the prostate in port Harcourt, Nigeria

Objectives: To determine the incidence of prostate cancer in Port Harcourt and the surrounding towns whose residents patronize the University of Port Harcourt Teaching Hospital for tertiary health care, histologically characterize the patterns of these cancers, and grade them according to the Gleason scheme.Materials and Methods: Blocks and slides of prostate specimens received at the Department of Anatomical Pathology, University of Port Harcourt Teaching Hospital between January 1997 and December 2006 were retrospectively selected for this study. The slides were studied using a binocular Olympus light microscope. Patients’ age at presentation, presenting symptoms, and clinical diagnosis were sorted out from the request cards and the department’s archival register.Results: Carcinoma was diagnosed in 198 specimens (37.4%) of the 529 cases reviewed. Of these, 164 (82.8%) were clinical carcinoma (having been found in clinically suspected carcinoma cases for which trucut biopsies were undertaken), while 34 (17.2%) were incidental carcinoma cases (being found in prostatectomy biopsy cases of patients clinically diagnosed with nodular hyperplasia). All of the clinical carcinomas were adenocarcinomas predominantly moderately differentiated and of large acinar pattern. Also, all of the incidental carcinomas were adenocarcinomas predominantly well differentiated and of large acinar pattern. The Gleason scores (GSs) were varied but predominantly of high values, particularly with clinical carcinoma cases. The age range was 42 to 90 years and the mean was 70 years with a peak of 70 to 79 years.Conclusion: The incidence of prostate cancer in Port Harcourt is high relative to other Nigerian centers where similar studies have been carried out and compares well with the high incidence found among African American men. Histologically, all cases are acinar adenocarcinomas. Most patients present late with high GS carcinoma and therefore have poor prognosis. There is a need for enlightenment of the male populace on the high incidence of this deadly disease as well as for screening to reduce the number of patients presenting late and therefore improve prognosis

Systemic Analysis of Sudden Natural Deaths at Braithwaite Memorial Specialist Hospital Port Harcourt, Nigeria

Background: Many cases of sudden unexpected natural deaths occur in individuals without known medical diseases. Relatives of such victims and the law enforcement agents often designate those as sudden and unnatural deaths (SUD), and call for coroners inquests.Aims: To analyze the anatomic causes of sudden natural deaths investigated by the Coroner at Braithwaite Memorial Specialist Hospital (BMSH), and to classify them according to body systems and compare our findings with those of previous studies.Materials and methods: This is a nine-year retrospective study carried out in BMSH Port Harcourt, Nigeria. The reports of unlimited and standardized autopsies carried out on sudden and natural death victims were retrievedand analyzed. The causes of death were grouped according to the body systems involved. The cases were also analyzed according to age, sex, and circumstances of death.Results: Of the 9,164 bodies received, 2,415 (26.4%) were autopsied for varied reasons, out of which 249 (2.7%) were sudden natural deaths in persons without known significant medical history. Male: female ratio (MFR)was 2.2:1. The mean age was 39.7 years with a range of 3 weeks to 97 years. Peak age group was 30-39 years with 27.7%. Cardiovascular system pathologies were by far the commonest causes of death with 87.6%. The least cause of death was prematurity with 0.4%. Among the cardiovascular system pathologies, hypertensive heart disease was the commonest. All deathswere from natural causes.Conclusion: Cardiovascular system pathologies especially hypertensive heart disease remain the leading cause of sudden natural deaths in this study. Residents of Rivers state of Nigeria should be more conscious of their health and undergo regular medical check-ups for early detection and proper management of cardiovascular diseases especially systemic hypertension.Key Words: Sudden natural deaths, autopsy, coroner, hypertension, Port Harcourt

Blending of Nsu and Ibeku Clays: A Solution Towards the Replacement of GP 107-3 Refractory Brick in the Metallurgical Industry

This study has compared the thermo-physical properties of local content refractories produced from blends of Ibeku and Nsu Clay deposits of Nigeria with an imported clay product, GP 107-3 aluminosilicate refractories of Germany. The properties considered are apparent porosity, bulk density, linear shrinkage, cold crushing strength, refractoriness, thermal shock resistance. The results revealed that some of the blends of the Ibeku and Nsu refractory bricks produced can suitably substitute for the imported aluminosilicate refractories utilized in metallurgical and allied industries. Ibeku sample enhanced the thermo- physical properties of Nsu sample

An Estimate of the Incidence of Prostate Cancer in Africa: A Systematic Review and Meta-Analysis

Prostate cancer (PCa) is rated the second most common cancer and sixth leading cause of cancer deaths among men globally. Reports show that African men suffer disproportionately from PCa compared to men from other parts of the world. It is still quite difficult to accurately describe the burden of PCa in Africa due to poor cancer registration systems.We systematically reviewed the literature on prostate cancer in Africa and provided a continentwide incidence rate of PCa based on available data in the regio

Pattern of suicide in Nigeria: The Niger Delta experience

Background: Suicide is becoming a major public health problem. Objective: To determine the pattern of suicide cases with respect to age, sex, and methods employed. Design: A 10-year retrospective study of suicide cases reported to the Coroner in Rivers and Abia states of Nigeria.Materials and Methods: Data on the age, sex, circumstances, and methods of all suicide cases handled by the authors were extracted and analyzed. Results: There were 32 cases (0.9%) of suicides out of a total of 3,555 medico-legal autopsies reviewed over the period. Of the 32 cases, 28 (87.5%) were males and 4 (12.5%) were females, giving a male to female ratio of 7:1. The age distribution showed a peak incidence in the third decade. The commonest method of committing suicide in this environment is by hanging. The range and mean of the ages is 16 – 64 yrs and 31 yrs, respectively. Conclusion: This review shows that the choice of how to die often depends on the most available and most convenient means at hand. Women chose less violent means of suicide such as drowning or poisoning, while males often chose violent methods such as hanging or firearms.Key words: Autopsy, Coroner, Euthanasia, Suicide attacks, Suicide pac

Autopsy study of traumatic/violent deaths in Rivers State of Nigeria

Background: As Nigerians grapple with heavy burden of diseases  communicable and non-communicable, violent deaths have also become a public health issue in Nigeria. It accounts for an alarming number of residents sent to their graves, especially the young and productive ones.Aims: To evaluate the burden of  violent deaths in Rivers state, examine their manners, causes and demographic distribution. Also to proffer ways of reducing such deaths.Methods: Archived autopsy reports of victims of violent deaths were reviewed for age, gender, circumstances, causes and mechanisms of death between 1998 and 2008. The autopsies were medicolegal cases carried out in different government and privately owned mortuaries located in Rivers state in  accordance with the coroner laws of Rivers state.Results: Violent deaths constituted 84.2% of 2096 medicolegal autopsies conducted by the authors within the eleven-year period. Males(85.9%) predominated over females. The average and peak ages were 35 years and 21-30 years respectively. Twenty percent of the victims were children and adolescents aged between 0 and 20 years. Homicides and accidents constituted 56.9% and 42.3% respectively while suicides constituted 0.8%. Homicidal deaths were majorly by firearms while accidental deaths were mainly road traffic-related. Suicides were all by hanging.Conclusions: Violent deaths with its high mortality rate in Rivers state constitute a public health menace. Tackling illegal possession of firearms and combating crime as well as upgrading and maintaining safety standards in the transport sector will curb the alarming rate of violent deaths in Rivers State of Nigeria.   Keywords: Trauma, Violent, Accidents, Homicides, Deaths, Nigeri

Histologic Analysis of Incidental Carcinomas of The Prostate Gland in Portharcourt: A 10 Year Retrospective Review.

Background: Incidental prostate cancers, i.e. cancers found in the specimens of men undergoing surgery for benign prostatic hyperplasia (BPH), have been regarded as non-lethal and harmless, therefore have most times , been left without treatment. However, recent studies have demonstrated otherwise, showing that there is significant mortality associated with the cancer. We determined the occurrence and evaluated the morphologic characteristics of incidental carcinomas of the prostate in a Teaching Hospital in Nigeria. Materials and methods: This was a retrospective review of prostatectomy specimens from patients clinically diagnosed of BPH between 1996 and 2005 at the University of Port Harcourt Teaching Hospital. Results: Age range of patients was 52-87 years, with mean of 67.4 years and peak age group of 60-69 years. Thirty-four (10.3%) of the reviewed 331 cases were positive for incidental carcinomas. All cases were adenocarcinomas. Twelve (35.3%) were well differentiated. Gleason score 5-6 constituted the majority of the cases 18 (52.9%). Eighteen cases (52.9%) were of large acinar morphologic pattern. Conclusion: The incidence of incidental carcinomas of the prostate in our environment is significant, consequently urologists should exercise high index of suspicion while attending to patients clinically diagnosed of BPH. The overall morphologic features portend fair prognosis and contrasts with the established late presenting, and advanced clinical carcinomas with poor prognosis.Keywords: Incidental carcinoma, Prostate, Histopathology, Port Harcourt

Histologic study of non-neoplastic kidney lesions in Port Harcourt, Nigeria

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Analysis of 155 cases of head and neck cancers seen over a 3-year period at University of Port Harcourt Teaching Hospital

Objective: Head and neck cancers are group of malignancies that affect the head and neck region. They remain a serious public health concern worldwide with more than half a million cases diagnosed annually. The prevalence and presentation vary from one region to the other. The purpose of this study is to determine the pattern of presentation of this lesion in the University of Port Harcourt Teaching Hospital (UPTH).Method: Records of all histologically diagnosed head and neck cancers during the study period were retrieved from the Cancer Registry of UPTH. Information collected were age, sex, histopathological diagnosis and site of primary lesion. The data were analyzed with SPSS version 20 and summary statistics of frequency and central tendency werepresented.Result: There were 155 patients comprising 95 (61.3%) males and 60 (38.7%) females, giving a male to female ratio of 1.6:1. The age range of the patients was 1-85 years with a mean age of 37.8±20.6. The highest incidence of HNC was found in the 40-49 (18.7%) age group while least number of patients was found in the 80-89 (2.6%) age group. Carcinomas (44.5%) was the most common malignant lesion with squamous cell carcinoma been the most common. The next most common lesions were the Lymphomas (25.8%). The neck (29.7%) was the most  commonly affected site followed by the oral cavity (22.5%) while the parotid region and the larynx with 1.9% respectively were the least affected sites.Conclusion: Squamous cell carcinomas were the most frequent HNC seen in our centre and the patients within the 5th decade were most frequently affected with male predominance. Common sites affected were the neck, oral cavity, eye, and the nasopharynx.Key words: Head and Neck, Cancers, Port Harcour

Prostatitis in prostate specimens from patients with prostate enlargement at University of Port Harcourt Teaching Hospital - A histologic review

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