title: A 20 year histopathological study of cancer of the cervix in Nigerians.
abstract: BACKGROUND
  Cervical cancer is the second commonest cancrin the world.
  
  
  OBJECTIVE
  The study is to evaluate the prevalence and histopathological pattern of cervical cancer in the University of Benin Teaching Hospital, Benin City.
  
  
  METHODS
  All the tissue slides of specimen [cervix and hysterectomy] diagnosed as cervical carcinoma over a period of 20 years [1987-2006] were retrieved and reevaluated for confirmation of diagnosis and tumour typing in the Department of Pathology, University of Benin Teaching Hospital, Benin City. Clinical data were obtained from histopathology registers, request forms as well as case notes of patients obtained from the Records Department.
  
  
  RESULTS
  A total of 598 cases of cancer of the cervix constituting 63.7% of gynaecological cancers were seen during the 20 year study period. The age range for cervical cancer was 15-90 years with a mean age of 50.4 years (SD +/- 13.5) and a peak occurrence in the 5th decade. Squamous cell carcinoma (92.3%) was the most common histological type of cervical cancer, followed by adenocarcinoma (6.0%) and adenosquamous carcinoma (1.0%). Glassy cell carcinoma, undifferentiated carcinoma malignant mixed mullerian tumour and rhabdomyosarcoma were rare constituting 1 (0.2) case each.
  
  
  CONCLUSIONS
  This study has shown a high incidence of carcinoma of cervix at the University of Benin Teaching Hospital. It is necessary to establish effective screening centres and educate the populace in order to raise the level of awareness and increase the early detection of preinvasive lesions.
authors.affiliation: Department of Pathology and Obstetrics & Gynacology, University of Benin Teaching Hospital, Benin City, Nigeria. adebaris2004@yahoo.com
authors.forename: Adesuwa Noma
authors.initials: AN
authors.lastname: Olu-Eddo
authors.forename: Victor James
authors.initials: VJ
authors.lastname: Ekanem
authors.forename: Ivy
authors.initials: I
authors.lastname: Umannah
authors.forename: Joseph
authors.initials: J
authors.lastname: Onakevhor
mesh_terms: D000293:Adolescent; D000328:Adult; D017677:Age Distribution; D000368:Aged; D000369:Aged, 80 and over; D001706:Biopsy; D044383:Black People; D002277:Carcinoma / Q000150:complications / Q000453:epidemiology* / Q000473:pathology*; D005260:Female; D006784:Hospitals, Teaching; D006801:Humans; D015994:Incidence; D008875:Middle Aged; D009549:Nigeria / Q000453:epidemiology; D015995:Prevalence; D012189:Retrospective Studies; D002583:Uterine Cervical Neoplasms / Q000150:complications / Q000453:epidemiology* / Q000473:pathology*; D055815:Young Adult