Female genital tract malignancies in a Niger- Delta region of Nigeria

Abstract

Background: Gynecological malignancies are easily a paramount cause of morbidity and mortality in women in most sub-Saharan countries. We aim to determine the prevalence and highlight the spectrum of female genital malignancies in Benin City, Mid-Western Nigeria, an oil producing region.
Methods: Data of all women with histologically diagnosed genital cancers within a five-year period at University of Benin Teaching Hospital, Benin City, was reviewed, analysed and presented.
Results: A total of 119 females had histologically confirmed genital tract malignancies during the study period.
Cervical cancer was the most common malignancy with 98 cases (82.4%), followed by ovarian cancer with 10 cases (8.4%) and endometrial malignancies in 6 (5.0%) patients. There were two cases of ovarian Non-Hodgkins lymphoma. Overall, the peak age at presentation was 40 -50 years, while the peak ages for cervical cancer, ovarian cancer and endometrial malignancies were 40-50years, 30-40years and 40-50years respectively.
Conclusion: Female genital malignancies, cervical carcinomas in particular, are an important public health problem in Nigeria. National or Regional cervical cancer screening programmes need to be established and sustained. Human Papilloma Virus (HPV) vaccines should be made affordable and available to women from low resource settings in Sub Saharan Africa.