Although there were notable differences, our findings were in broad agreement with those of most other sub-Saharan African series, but differed markedly from those in the Western world and other high income countries. Further studies are required to identify the environmental factors for the high prevalence of nonfamilial retinoblastoma and possibly acute myeloid leukemia.

Significant differences in the global distribution of salivary gland tumors have been reported, but no formal study has been carried out here in Kano, the largest city in northern Nigeria. We therefore undertook this eight-year retrospective study of all histologically diagnosed salivary neoplasms at the histopathology laboratory of our referral teaching hospital in Kano. Seventy-eight salivary gland tumors were diagnosed during the eight-year study period accounting for 0.4% of all neoplasms. Benign tumors were more prevalent, comprising 56.4%, while malignancies were 43.6%. Pleomorphic adenoma and mucoepidermoid carcinoma were the commonest histological types constituting 48.7% and 23.1% respectively, while the most frequent sites were parotid, submandibular and minor salivary glands accounting for 49%, 26% and 24% respectively. As in most studies of black populations there were no adenolymphomas. Age distribution was bimodal with a benign peak in the third decade and a malignant peak in the sixth. Our findings were broadly similar to most other African reports but somewhat at variance with Western literature. Improved hospital attendance with more comprehensive reporting would yield more representative data.

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Background:Research and publications are critical to advancements in the quality of healthcare delivery. This article attempts to highlight the prospects and challenges of fine needle aspiration (FNA) cytology as a tool for research in Nigeria.Materials and Methods:Data available in local and international bibliographic databases for the period 1986–2005 (20 years) were collated and analyzed.Results:The theme of Nigerian FNA-focused studies correlated with the recognized disease patterns in the country which are tuberculous lymphadenitis, breast tumors and Burkitt's lymphoma. The accuracy of FNA in these situations was high and comparable to the experience in developed countries. It was found that the total number of articles published during two contiguous periods (1986–1995 and 1996–2005) had increased from 5 to 18. Also, in majority of cases, the articles were not published in specialized pathology journals.Conclusions:The utilization of FNA is apparently lagging in Nigeria. Given its potential in resource-constrained settings, we are of the opinion that it should be used more often in clinical and translational research.

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SUMMARY HIV causes immunodeficiency by infection, lyses and depletion of CD4 T-lymphocytes;hence CD4 count has become a valuable indicator of immune function in the management of HIV infection. Consequently, we evaluated baseline CD4 counts of 500 HIV seropsitive adults in a government sponsored anti-retroviral treatment (ART) scheme at our centre, for the purpose of monitoring subsequent response to anti-retrovirals.The overwhelming majority (92%) of our patients were within the sexually active, 3rd to 5th decade age group, and the mean CD4 count was 302 cells/µl. Half of our patients (251 cases) had AIDS as defined by CD4 count <200 cells/µl and 72% had CD4 count <350 cells/µl, the WHO recommended criterion for instituting ART. In general our HIV seropositives had CD4 counts comparable to other studies here in Nigeria and the West African sub-region, but higher than in East Africa and Europe. In view of the well documented higher CD4 count of West Africans, it might be necessary to upwardly review the WHO recommended 350 cells/µl benchmark for instituting ART.

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