A review of the clinicopathologic pattern of head and neck malignant tumours in Ilorin, Nigeria

Abstract

Background: Head and neck cancers remain a major public health concern with increasing prevalence in Africa. The aim of this study was to highlight the current trends of head and neck cancers and compare with previous studies.
Methods: A retrospective study of head and neck cancers seen in University of Ilorin Teaching Hospital over a 6-year period (2013 – 2018) was done. Information was retrieved from the clinic, theatre and cancer registry centre. Sites of tumours, duration of symptoms before presentation, reasons for late presentation and histopathological diagnosis were extracted.
Result: There were a total of 143 histologically confirmed head and neck cancers.. The age ranged from 2 – 100 years with a mean age of 52 years. The duration of symptoms at presentation was found to range from 3 months to 78 months. Over 80% presented late. Reasons for late presentation were financial constraints (60.5%), ignorance/wrong beliefs (32.4%), traditional treatment (41.6%) and delayed referral (22.5%). Commonest sites were sinonasal region (13.3%), larynx (11.9%), and the nasopharynx (11.2%). Of these, 58.0% were carcinomas, 25.2%were lymphomas, 7.0% were sarcomas while 9.8% were blastomas.
Conclusion: The clinicopathologicalpattern of head and neck cancers revealed no significant change over the past 20 years. However, it is expedient to carry out this kind of study at regular intervals to enable health care professionals update existing records. It will help in the revision of policies that are tailored towards reducing the prevalence of head and neck tumours.