Clinicopathological Analysis of Primary Ovarian Cancers in A Tertiary Health Facility In Nnewi, South Eastern, Nigeria

Next to cervical cancer, ovarian cancer is responsible for most gynaecological cancer death and ill health in Nigeria. However, its management still poses tremendous challenge to the gynaecologist due to late presentation. Over a period of ten years (January 1999 to December 2008) 76 patients presented with carcinoma of the ovary at the Nnamdi Azikiwe University Teaching Hospital, Nnewi, Nigeria. The case files of 70 patients were available and were analysed retrospectively. Ovarian cancer accounted for 76 of the 317 gynaecological malignancies treated in the hospital giving an incidence of 24.0% of all gynaecological cancers. The mean age of the patients was 51.2±1.2 while the modal age group was 50 - 59 years (28.6%). Most of the patients were grandmultiparous (54.3%) and belonged to social classes I (28.6%) and II (20.0%). Abdominal swelling (85.7%), abdominal mass (74.3%), abdominal pain (71.4%) and weight loss (60.0%) were the common presenting features. Majority of the patients (57.1%) presented in stage iv. Serous adenocarcinoma (46.9%) was the commonest histological type found and was followed by mucinous adenocarcinoma (28.1%). Sixty eight (97.1%) of the patients had surgery(cytoreduction) with chemotherapy while 2 patients received chemotherapy only. Sepsis/ wound breakdown (17.2%) and haemorrhage (14.1%) were the main postoperative complications encountered. Following treatment, thirty three (47.1%) of the patients were lost to follow up while Eighteen (25.7%) patients died during the follow up period. We advocate public sensitization and awareness among medical practitioners for early detection, and improved treatment outcome.Key words: ovarian cancer, clinicopathological analysis, Southeast Nigeri