Seven-Year Histopathological Review of Malignant Ovarian Tumours Seen in Kano

Background: Ovarian malignancies are important causes of morbidity and mortality and understanding their pathology go a long way in proffering adequate clinical management.Objective: To determine the pattern, frequency and age distribution of malignant ovarian tumours received in the Pathology department of Aminu Kano Teaching Hospital, (AKTH), Kano over a 7 year period (2001 2007).Methods: A retrospective analysis of all malignant ovarian tumours received and processed at the Pathology Department of AKTH, Kano between 1st January 2001 and 31st December 2007.Results: The ovarian tumours included 212 (66.2%) benign and 108 (33.8%) malignant cases. Serous cystadenocarcinoma was the most common malignant tumour representing 31.5% of all cases. Twentyeight cases of granulosa cell tumours accounting for 25.9% of the malignant tumours were next in frequency while dysgerminoma and Burkitt's lymphoma were the most common tumours seen in children in the first decade of life and constituted 5.5 and 2.8% of all malignant tumours respectively.Conclusion: The study has shown that malignant tumours constitute about a third of all ovarian tumours seen in this North-Wesrtern part of Nigeria covered by Aminu Kano Teaching Hospital with serous cystadenocarcinoma being overall the most common malignant ovarian tumour and peak age range of occurrence being in the fifth decade.Key Words: Ovarian Cancer; Histology, Epithelial Tumou