A ten-year pathological study of renal tumours in Port Harcourt, Nigeria

Abstract

Background/Objective:
To determine the relative frequency of renal tumours with respect to age, sex and clinical presentation.

Method:
A retrospective review of histologic reports and clinical notes. Nephrectomy and renal specimens from autopsy were routinely processed and stained with hematoxylin and Eosin (H & E) stain. The completed slides were viewed under the light microscope for the diagnosis of the tumours.

Results:
Thirty nine specimens accounting for 0.5% of the total tumours satisfied the criteria for the study. Thirty seven tumours (94.9%) were malignant while 2(5.1%) were benign. The youngest was an 8 months old female while the oldest was a 65 year old female. A total of 24(61.5%) tumours occurred in males while 15(38.5%) in females giving a sex ratio of 1.6:1. Nephroblastoma (64.1%) was the commonest malignancy and majority occurred in children while renal cell carcinoma was the most common adult renal tumour. Haematuria was the most frequent clinical presentation.

Conclusion:
Renal tumours are rare in this environment but they may pose a significant morbidity and mortality. Though some present with severe clinical symptoms others may go unnoticed.

Keywords:
Renal tumours, nephroblastoma, renal cell carcinoma, haematuria

Annals of African Medicine Vol. 5(2) 2006: 64-67