Clinico-pathological presentation of primary cervical cancer seen in Ilorin, Nigeria

Abstract

Background: Invasive cervical cancer remains the most common cancer in the developing countries and the second leading cause of cancer mortality in women worldwide. Methods: a 10-year retrospective review of histologically confirmed primary cervical cancers seen at the department of obstetrics and gynaecology of the university of ilorin teaching hospital, ilorin in 10 years. Results: Of the 236 confirmed gynaecological cancers, 147 (62.3%) cases were histologically confirmed primary cervical cancers. One hundred and thirty two patients (89.8%) were of low socio-economic status and 145 (98.6%) were married. Majority of the patients 102 (69.4%) were in the age range 40 – 69 years with highest frequency in 40 – 49 years. The study also revealed a steady rise in the incidence of the disease with increase in parity. Grandmultiparous women had the highest incidence 119 (80.9%). Most of the patients had multiple symptoms. The common symptoms include irregular vaginal bleeding 108 (73.5%), vaginal discharge 58 (39.5%) and post coital bleeding 31 (21.1%). Only 18 (12.3%) reported at the hospital within one month of onset of symptoms. About three-quarters of the patients had advanced disease (stage IIb to IVb) and Stage III was the most common 74 (50.3%). Squamous cell carcinoma accounted for 126 (85.7%) of the cases while Adenosquamous carcinoma and Adenocarcinoma were responsible for 13 (8.9%) and 8 (5.4%) cases respectively. Conclusion: This study has shown a high incidence of primary cervical cancer in our centre. The common presenting symptoms were irregular vaginal bleeding, vaginal discharge and postcoital bleeding in that order. Majority of the patients presented in advanced stage (stage IIb – IVb) of the disease. Key words: Cervical cancer, Clinico-pathological presentation Nig. J. of Surgical Research Vol.4(3-4) 2002: 89-93