Histopathological study of surgical cervical biopsies in Lagos, Nigeria

Abstract

Introduction : Benign lesions of the cervix such as hyperplasia, endometriosis, cervicitis and endocervical polyps are health concerns for women globally. Meanwhile, Cervical cancer is the fourth most common cancer among women in the world, with developing countries bearing the brunt of the burden in terms of morbidity and mortality. This study examines the histopathological pattern of cervical biopsies in a tertiary health institution in Lagos, Nigeria. Materials and Methods : This was a retrospective study of all cervical biopsies received in a government‑owned tertiary health institution and a private pathology laboratory both in Ikeja over an 8‑year period. All the slides were retrieved and reviewed while socio‑demographic and clinical details were obtained from request and clinical notes. Data analysis was conducted using the Statistical Package for Social Science version 20. Results : A total of 901 biopsies were retrieved, representing 4.8% of the total biopsies conducted. The age range of patients was 19–87 years with a mean age of 49 ± 13.0 years. The benign tumours accounted for 58.8% of the cases, with a benign to malignant ratio of 1.5:1. Squamous cell carcinoma (SCC), endocervical polyps, and cervical intraepithelial neoplasm accounted for 36.1%, 30.9%, and 15.1% of the total cervical biopsies, respectively. The benign tumours were statistically related to the younger age groups (P = 0.00), however, malignant tumours showed no relationship with age group (P = 0.325). Conclusion : SCC and endocervical polyps were the most common malignant and benign cervical biopsies, respectively. The benign tumours were seen more in the younger age group. Early detection of some of these benign conditions may provide an opportunity for appropriate interventions to prevent further complications. Key words : Benign; biopsy; cervical cancer; cervical intraepithelial neoplasm; endocervical polyps; malignant; squamous cell carcinoma.