Annals of Tropical Pathology

A Histopathological Review of Cancer in Katsina State North-Western Nigeria

Asma’u Usman — 2024-07-12

Background: Cancer is a public health concern globally, especially in Africa, and its incidence and mortality are rapidly growing. Materials and Methods: This was a 10-year review of all cancer cases received from 1 st January 2012 to 31st December 2021 in the pathology laboratories of Federal Teaching Hospital Katsina, General Hospital Katsina and General Amadi Rimi Specialist Hospital Katsina. Data were obtained from departmental laboratory record registers, analyzed and organized into specific organ sites as categorized by the International Classification for Diseases for Oncology and presented in tables and charts according to organ sites and systems. Results: A total of 13,500 surgical specimens were received in the laboratories of which 2,359 (17.5%) were confirmed to be cancers. It involved 1378 females and 982 males with mean ages of 45.75 and 51.42 respectively, and a male-to-female ratio of 1:1.4. Cancer cases ranged between 2 months to 101 years with a mean age ± SD of 48.1± 19.7. The most common adult cancers were breast (19.3%), prostate (14.4%) and cervical (12.0%) with a median age of occurrence in the 5th, 8th and 6th decade respectively. The top paediatric cancers were retinoblastoma (15.8%), rhabdomyosarcoma (15.3%), acute lymphoblastic leukemia (10%) and Burkitt lymphoma (8.8%). The most commonly affected systems were the female genital tract (18.7%), breast (18%) and male genital tract (13.7%). Conclusion: This study shows that 1 in 6 surgical specimens received in the laboratories in Katsina are cancers with an overall increase over the years. The frequency, patterns, histological types and sociodemographic characteristics were determined. This will hopefully serve as baseline data for future cancer control policies and strategies including the establishment of a population-based cancer registry in the state.

Pathological Review of Modified Rectal Biopsy for Diagnosis of Hirschsprung’s Disease.

Halima O. Aliyu — 2024-07-12

Background: The diagnosis of Hirschsprung’s disease (HD) is based on histological confirmation of the absence of normal ganglion cells in the colonic wall utilising full-thickness rectal biopsies (FRB) or suction rectal mucosal biopsies. The attendant risks in the former and cost of consumables in the later resulted in the development of a modified rectal biopsy using instruments (MRB). Reports of how this method compares to the gold standard differ in the literature. This study evaluated the adequacy of modified rectal mucosal biopsy histology in the definitive diagnosis of Hirschsprung’s disease compared to traditional biopsy techniques. Method: A histological review of 438 MRBs, and 119 Pull-through specimens and FRBs performed over an 18-year period in a single institution. Specimens were formalin fixed, paraffin processed and stained with hematoxylin & eosin. A developed set of criteria was used to assess diagnostic histological accuracy for the MRBs. Data analysis was done. Results: 321 males and 117 females with median age of 10 months were studied. 84.2% of which were diagnosed to be HD upon review of their MRBs; MRB inadequacy in 9.5%, and 6.2% had other diagnosis. Accuracy analysis was carried out on 107 patients who had both MRB and either definitive Pull-through or FRB. Sensitivity and specificity of 100% and 80% respectively, and positive and negative predictive values of 99% and 100% were derived. Conclusion: A single MRB specimen obtained by instrument can effectively diagnose Hirschsprung’s disease but requires interpretation by experienced pathologists utilising standardized reporting formats guided by best practices. This will positively impact patient management

Prevalence and Risk Factors for Herpes Simplex Virus Type 2 Infections Among HIV Infected Individuals in Lagos

Philip Olayiwola Oshun — 2024-07-12

Background: Out of the 1·4 million new HIV infections acquired sexually in 2016 among individuals aged 15–49 years, 420 000 were attributable to HSV-2 infection. This study aimed to determine the prevalence of HSV-2 infections and associated risk factors among HIV infected individuals in Lagos. Methods: A cross-sectional study was conducted to determine the prevalence of and risk factors for HSV – 2 infections in randomly selected HIV infected individuals at an HIV clinic. Blood samples were collected and tested for HSV-2 IgG antibodies with an enzyme linked immunosorbent assay (IBL International, Germany). Result: Three hundred and sixty-three HIV infected participants were recruited into the study of which 259 (71.3%) were females and 104 (31.3%) were males. The mean age was 41.7±9.5 years. The prevalence of HSV-2 in HIV infected participants was 84% (95% CI 80 – 88%). The prevalence of HSV-2 was significantly higher in those older than 40 years with an adjusted odds ratio of 1.88 (95% CI [1.04 – 3.79], p=0.036) and those with a duration of HIV greater than 2 years with an adjusted odds ratio 2.5 (95% CI [1.3 – 4.85], p=0.007). Conclusion: The prevalence of HSV-2 in HIV infected individuals was very high. Older age and longer duration of HIV infection were the significant risk factors for HSV-2 infections. Routine screening of HIV infected patients for HSV-2 infections in HIV clinics should be practiced. Strategies for prevention and control of HSV-2 infections should be introduced.

Molecular Detection of Epstein-Barr Virus in Nasopharyngeal Carcinoma

Sannom Mildred Yates — 2024-07-12

Background: Nasopharyngeal carcinoma (NPC) has been closely associated with the oncogenic virus, Epstein–Barr virus (EBV). Its latent membrane protein‑1 (LMP‑1) has been particularly implicated in the molecular induction of latency in premalignant epithelial cells, initiation and development of NPC through various signaling pathways. The main aim of the study is the detection of LMP-1 gene in formalin fixed paraffin embedded tissue blocks (PETB) of histologically diagnosed NPC at Ahmadu Bello University Teaching Hospital (ABUTH), Zaria from January 1992 to December 2013. Materials and Methods: The PETB of 43 previously diagnosed NPC were retrieved and real-time Polymerase Chain Reaction (PCR) was used for EBV LMP-1 detection. Tissue sections were deparaffinized with xylene and ethanol, DNA extracted using QIAamp® DNA FFPE Tissue kit, Qiagen (Hamburg, Germany) and was quantified using NanoDrop. The amplicons were subjected to gel electrophoresis to detect the specific amplified product for LMP-1 gene. Data were analyzed using SPSS 26. Results: The result showed a male predominance with ratio 2.9:1, a wide age range of 6 years to 83 years, a mean age of 42.8 years, median age of 45 years and a unimodal age group of 40-49 years. EBV LMP-1 was positive in 16 (37.2%) of cases, 14 (32.6%) of these were of the Nonkeratinizing Carcinoma (NKC) subtype while 2 (4.7%) were Keratinizing Squamous Cell Carcinoma (KSCC). Conclusion: The study provides evidence of the association of EBV LMP-1 with NPC and might prove useful as a
diagnostic, therapeutic and prognostic tool in the management of NPC.

An Uncommon Presentation of Rhinosporidiosis in A 17-Year-Old Female: A Case Report

Asma’u Usman — 2024-07-12

Rhinosporidiosis is an inflammatory disease prevalent in Asia, with the majority of the cases found in India. However, it has also been reported in other parts of the world. It is caused by Rhinosporidium seeberi and predominantly affects the mucous membranes of the nasal cavity and occasionally the eyes, skin and other parts of the respiratory system. Diagnosis is by histological examination of the affected tissues. In this article, we present an uncommon case of Rhinosporidiosis in a 17-year-old female.

Tribute to late Prof. Vincent Olubunmi Rotimi (September 27, 1943-July 12, 2023)

Samuel Sunday Taiwo — 2024-07-12

No abstract available