Ovarian tumors among Nigerian females: A private practice experience in Benin-City, Nigeria

Background: Ovarian tumors ranked high among gynecological tumor globally. Reports have it that ovarian tumors cut across all age groups, but more common in adult females. Currently, ovarian cancer is the 4^th most common cancer in terms of incidence and mortality patterns in women globally. To highlight the frequency and histological types of ovarian tumors in a private practice establishment in Benin-City, Southern Nigeria.
Materials and Methods: Hematoxylin and eosin stained-slides of ovarian biopsies diagnosed at the Ashamas Foundation Diagnostic Centre, Benin-City for 10 years were archived and studied. Request forms were analyzed for clinical bio-data, diagnosis and nature of biopsies. Ovarian tumors were classified according to the World Health Organization manual series.




Results: A total of 236 of all ovarian lesions were encountered in this study. Of these, 200 (84.7%) were benign lesions while malignant lesions accounted for 36 (15.3%). Of this, 200 benign lesions 79 accounting for (39.5%) were a benign neoplastic tumor. The ratio of benign to malignant tumors was 5.6:1.0. The mean age of benign neoplastic tumor was 31.6 years ± 10.4 standard deviation (SD). Out of the 79 benign neoplastic tumors; germ cell tumors was the most common accounting for 49 (62%). The mean age of the 36 malignant ovarian tumors was 40.1 years ± 16.2 SD with the majority as malignant surface epithelial tumors accounting for (n = 16; 44.4%). The malignant germ cell tumor was the most common constituting 10 (27.7%).
Conclusion: Germ cell tumor was the most common with the majority occurring in reproductive age. Our finding is a reversal of what obtains in the western countries where surface epithelial tumor was the most common with the majority occurring in elderly females.