PREVALENCE AND CHARACTERISTICS OF OVARIAN CANCER IN UDUTH: A 10 YEAR REVIEW

Abstract

Objectives; To determine the prevalence and characteristics of ovarian cancers in women as seen in gynaecological Unit at UDUTH Sokoto. Methods: A 10 year retrospective study of all cases of ovarian cancers seen at the gynaecological clinic of UDUTH Sokoto, between 1stJanuary 2002, to 31st December 2011. Results: The result of the study showed that out of the 16,140 cases seen at the gynaecological clinic at UDUTH, 39 cases were Ovarian cancer and this gives a prevalence of 0.24%. Fifteen of the patients (38.5%) fall within the age range of 60 years and above. About one third of the women 14 (35.9%) studied had a parity of between 0-1. Abdominal swelling, pain and GIT symptoms were the commonest presenting symptoms 32(82.1%). Majority of the patients 33 (84.6%) presented with advanced stage of the disease. Serous cystade no carcinoma constituted the largest number of the patients 17 (43.6%). The majority of the patients 28 (71.8%) had epithelial cells ovarian cancer. The outcome of the study showed that 11 (28.2%) of the patients were alive, 16 (41%) of the patients died, 8 (20.5%) of the patients signed against medical advice (SAMA), while 4 (10.3%) of the patients were lost to follow up. Conclusion: The commonest ovarian cancer in this study was serous cyst adenocarcinoma. Majority of the patients present with late stage of the disease. Emphasis should be on high level of vigilance and early detection with improved diagnostic techniques.