Morphological Patterns of Prostatic Lesions in Benin City, Nigeria: A Twenty Year Retrospective Study

Abstract

Background and Rationale: Prostate gland lesions constitute a substantial source of morbidity and mortality among adult male populations world-wide. Cancer of the prostate is one of the most common malignancies in men hence, the need to analyse and provide baseline data of the pattern of prostatic lesions in our local environment. Aim: To evaluate the prevalence and histological patterns of prostatic lesions at the University of Benin Teaching Hospital (UBTH), Benin City, Nigeria. Methods: A 20-year (1989-2008) retrospective study of case files and slides of all patients presenting with prostatic lesion to the surgical and pathology Departments. Results: A total of 813 prostatic lesions were studied during this period. Five hundred and forty nine (67.5%) of these lesion were nodular hyperplasia with chronic prostatitis co-existing in about 1% of cases. The overall age range was between 30 to102 years. The peak age range for nodular prostatic hyperplasia was in the 7th decade of life. Prostate cancer accounted for 252 (30.9%) of all prostatic lesions with a peak incidence in the seventh decade of life. Adenocarcinoma constituted about 99% of cases while squamous cell carcinoma accounted for 0.8%. Chronic prostatitis accounted for 1.1% of all prostate lesions. Conclusion: The patterns and frequency of prostatic lesions were comparatively similar to the findings in Nigeria and other parts of the world.