A diary of endometrial malignancies in Zaria, Northern Nigeria

Histopathological patterns of endometrial carcinoma in a tertiary hospital in North-West Nigeria

“…This is comparable to study in the same centre by Yakassai et al [ 21 ] (11.5%), Sanni et al [ 22 ] (13%) in Jos, North-Central Nigeria, Usman et al [ 23 ] (10.2%) in Maiduguri, North-East Nigeria, Joseph et al [ 24 ] (10.1%) in Abakaliki, South-East Nigeria and Seleye-Fubara and Uzoigwe [ 25 ] (13.3%) in Portharcourt, South-South Nigeria. The rising incidence rate from our study thus confirms the suggestion of the increasing incidence of endometrial carcinoma due to improved diagnostic techniques through the use of histopathology laboratory services and imaging techniques such as ultrasonography with available trained personnel as well as increased public awareness [ 5 , 21 ]. However, this figure is higher than reports by Muhammad et al [ 5 ] (5%) in Zaria, North-west Nigeria, Okunowo et al [ 9 ] (1.4%) in Lagos, South-west Nigeria, Oriji et al [ 15 ] (0.68%) in Yenagoa, South-South Nigeria.…”

“…Endometrial carcinoma is the third most common female genital tract malignancy in sub-Saharan Africa. A recent study in Nigeria shows a prevalence rate of 4%–11% for all genital tract cancers [ 5 ]. Endometrial carcinoma in this study shows a prevalence of 12.6%.…”

“…The incidence rates vary worldwide, however, it is said to be ten times higher in developed countries like North America, Europe and Australia than in Africa and South Central Asia. The statistics by Global Cancer Observatory (GLOBOCAN) have shown a steady global increment in endometrial carcinoma from incident cases of 287,000–320,000 in the year 2015 to 382,069 in the year 2018 and 417,000 in year 2020 [ 2 – 5 ]. In sub-Saharan Africa, endometrial carcinoma is the third commonest female genital tract malignancy after cervical cancer and ovarian cancer with a prevalence that ranges between 4% and 11% of gynaecologic admissions diagnosed as endometrial cancer in Nigeria as against North Africa where it is the commonest gynaecological malignancy [ 6 , 7 ].…”

“…Endometrial carcinoma presents commonly as abnormal uterine bleeding with or without discharge, this is an unusual presentation in Nigeria where the advanced stage of the disease such as ascites, rectal bleeding, constipation, urinary bleeding, and hemoptysis is seen. Most cases of endometrial carcinoma present in the early stages of the disease with a resultant good prognosis and higher survival rate if early diagnosis and effective therapy are achieved [ 1 , 5 , 8 , 9 ].…”

“…There is growing concern about the increasing incidence of endometrial carcinoma especially in developing countries which may not be unrelated to lifestyle changes by Africans to the Western world, increased availability of diagnostic facilities, increased exposure to associated risk factors especially in the younger age groups with obesity, physical inactivity and in part increasing long life span in women, as well as increasing population of perimenopausal/menopausal women with low parity [ 5 ].…”