Histopathological Pattern of Prostate Cancer in a Tertiary Hospital in Ghana

Abstract

Abstract Objectives Prostate adenocarcinoma (PCa) accounts for considerable morbidity in aging men in Africa. With fewer studies reporting on PCa within the subregion, this study was set out to analyze various clinicopathological patterns in PCa lesions, providing additional data for comparison with reported PCa cases in other parts of the globe. Methods The study included prostatic adenocarcinoma tissues received in the Department of Pathology, Komfo Anokye Teaching Hospital, over a period of 6 years (from 2008 to 2013). Relevant clinical data including age, histopathological diagnosis, and Gleason’s microscopic grading were extracted from the surgical day book of the department. In a consecutive order, archived tissue blocks and slides of the selected cases were also retrieved for review and confirmation of diagnosis. Results Mean age at presentation was 71.7 ± 8.72 years (age ranged from 53 to 96 years) with a peak in the seventh decade of life (n = 41, 52.6%). Majority of the cases were poorly differentiated (n = 43, 55.1%), followed by moderately differentiated (n = 20, 25.6%) and well-differentiated samples (n = 15, 19.2%). Highest occurrence of prostate adenocarcinoma was recorded in the year 2009 (n = 46), followed by 2008 and 2009 (n = 16 and 13, respectively), together accounting for 96.2% of the cases reported. Conclusion Histopathological evaluation of prostatic biopsies remains the mainstay of diagnosing prostate adenocarcinoma in Ghana. The pattern of incidence in the population is in line with several reported studies, with majority of the cases diagnosed at the late stage of the disease and thus portending worse prognosis.