Histopathological Pattern and Clinical Correlates of Ovarian Tumours in FMC, Abeokuta: A Five-Year Review

Abstract

Background: Ovarian tumours are one of the commonest gynaecological conditions seen in our environment. One of the most important aspects of the management of an ovarian tumour is the differentiation of lesions that are likely to be benign from those that are likely to be malignant. Understanding such patterns and their clinical correlation is essential in order to counsel patients and prognosticate. The histological pattern has not been adequately reviewed with clinical presentations in FMC, Abeokuta. This study was undertaken to determine the histopathological patterns of ovarian tumours and their clinical correlates at Federal medical centre Abeokuta.
Aims and Objectives: To know the histological pattern, incidence and age distribution of ovarian lesions at FMC, Abeokuta over a 5year period as well as correlate the findings with clinical presentations.
Materials and Method: This is a retrospective study of all the ovarian samples received in the histopathology unit of the hospital from January 1, 2014, to December 31, 2018. Data of all ovarian samples were retrieved from the histopathology registers and further clinical information were obtained from the health records of the hospital where the case files were retrieved and the relevant clinical information extracted.
Results: Ovarian lesions account for 3.7% % of all samples processed in the histopathology department of the hospital during the study period. A total of 106 ovarian samples were processed but only 91 cases were analysed for this study. The mean age was 39years with an age range of 14-77years. Of the 91 cases analysed, 41(45%) were non-neoplastic, 45 (49%) were benign and 5(6%) were malignant. Corpus luteum cyst was the commonest of all non-neoplastic lesions (accounting for 44% of non-neoplastic lesions) followed by simple follicular cyst (20%) and inflammatory cyst (18%). Mature cystic teratoma was the commonest benign neoplastic lesion (35%) followed by serous cystadenoma (22.5%), mucinous cystadenoma (20%) and fibroma (17.5%). The commonest malignancy was serous cyst adenocarcinoma. Abdominal pain and abdominal swelling were the predominant symptoms bringing patients with ovarian lesions to the hospital.
Conclusion: Ovarian lesions are significant causes of abdominal swelling from the adolescent to the elderly age group. However, only 1 in 18 cases is malignant and this is therefore re-assuring to both the clinician and the patients.