ObjectiveOvarian cancer in Black women is common in many West African countries but is relatively rare in North America. Black women have worse survival outcomes when compared to White women. Ovarian cancer histotype, diagnosis, and age at presentation are known prognostic factors for outcome. We sought to conduct a preliminary comparative assessment of these factors across the African diaspora.MethodsPatients diagnosed with ovarian cancer (all histologies) between June 2016-December 2019 in Departments of Pathology at 25 participating sites in Nigeria were identified. Comparative population-based data, inclusive of Caribbean-born Blacks (CBB) and US-born Blacks (USB), were additionally captured from the International Agency for Research on Cancer and Florida Cancer Data Systems. Histology, country of birth, and age at diagnosis data were collected and evaluated across the three subgroups: USB, CBB and Nigerians. Statistical analyses were done using chi-square and student’s t-test with significance set at p<0.05.ResultsNigerians had the highest proportion of germ cell tumor (GCT, 11.5%) and sex-cord stromal (SCST, 16.2%) ovarian cancers relative to CBB and USB (p=0.001). CBB (79.4%) and USB (77.3%) women were diagnosed with a larger proportion of serous ovarian cancer than Nigerians (60.4%) (p<0.0001). Nigerians were diagnosed with epithelial ovarian cancers at the youngest age (51.7± 12.8 years) relative to USB (58.9 ± 15.0) and CBB (59.0± 13.0,p<0.001). Black women [CBB (25.2 ± 15.0), Nigerians (29.5 ± 15.1), and USB (33.9 ± 17.9)] were diagnosed with GCT younger than White women (35.4 ± 20.5, p=0.011). Black women [Nigerians (47.5 ± 15.9), USB (50.9 ± 18.3) and CBB (50.9 ± 18.3)] were also diagnosed with SCST younger than White women (55.6 ± 16.5, p<0.01).ConclusionThere is significant variation in age of diagnosis and distribution of ovarian cancer histotype/diagnosis across the African diaspora. The etiology of these findings requires further investigation.

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Highlights This study was conducted in two tertiary health institutions in Anambra state of southeastern Nigeria. It compared the adequacy of Pap smears obtained with two sampling devices- the wooden Ayre’s spatula and the Papcone®. The adequacy of smears obtained with Papcone® was significantly better than those of wooden Ayre’s spatula. Papcone® should always be preferred, especially in developing countries where liquid-based cytology is not yet routine.

Background: Ovarian ectopic pregnancy is a rare form of non-tubal ectopic pregnancy. It can rupture before the end of the first trimester, causing hemoperitoneum, and present with signs and symptoms similar to other commoner abdominal emergencies or the pregnancy can continue intraperitoneally. Therefore, they are not often diagnosed preoperatively. Ultrasound can assist in diagnosis of ovarian ectopic pregnancy but the findings could be ambiguous or inconclusive. We present a case of ruptured ovarian ectopic pregnancy at the second trimester causing massive hemoperitoneum that was suspected as an intrabdominal malignancy co-existing with intrabdominal pregnancy. Case presentation: She was a 34 year-old Nigerian unbooked G4P3+0, (3 alive), who presented to the labor ward on 21st January, 2021 with a complaint of a 6-week history of abdominal pain and swelling. Pain was insidious in onset, generalized, non-colicky, non-radiating, constant, no known aggravating or relieving factor, but it was of moderate intensity. She had amenorrhea with a positive serum pregnancy test without prior early ultrasound. At presentation, initial abdominopelvic ultrasound revealed intra-uterine viable pregnancy but repeat ultrasound done showed a left adnexal ectopic gestation and an echo-rich intraperitoneal fluid collection. Laparotomy was done and ovarian pregnancy was accurately diagnosed intra-operatively. Tissue samples from the ovary confirmed normal products of conception, namely chorionic villi, trophoblastic cells and ovarian stroma at histology. Conclusion: Despite advances in imaging techniques, the diagnosis of ovarian ectopic gestation is still very difficult. When premenopausal women present with amenorrhea, generalized non-colicky abdominal pain and swelling in combination with ambiguous findings of pregnancy on ultrasound in the absence of trauma, differential diagnoses should include ruptured ovarian pregnancy. Obstetricians should maintain a high index of suspicion to forestall delayed diagnosis and the potential maternal morbidity and mortality. However, the need for high-index of suspicion should be for any ectopic, not just ovarian pregnancy.

Albinism results from a deficiency of the protein responsible for melanin production in melanocytes. Albinos are at an increased risk of dermatoses and malignancies. Primary carcinosarcoma of the skin is an exceedingly rare biphasic tumor composed of malignant epithelial and mesenchymal elements with an unclear histogenesis. To our knowledge, this has not been reported in an African albino. Here, we report the index case of this rare tumor in an albino of African descent.