Histopathological Features of Cervical Cancer in a Tertiary Hospital in Kumasi Ghana: A 9 Year Retrospective Study

Abstract

Cervical cancer remains one of the commonest gynaecological cancers among women in developing
countries. Knowing the general profile of the disease from institution-based studies would be important in
reflecting the actual national prevalence. This was a retrospective study to determine the histopathological
characteristics of specimen of the uteri cervix diagnosed in our center over a 9-year period. A total of 1,094
cervical histological findings were reviewed. Of these, 1087 (99.4%) were cervical carcinomas, 3 (0.3%)
normal and 4 (0.4%) inflammatory. Mean age of patients was 58.9±15.9 years with 29% of the patients with
cervical cancer being below 50 years while 71% were 50 years and older. Squamous cell carcinoma was the
commonest histological sub-type with 51.7% being moderately differentiated. Clinical presentation included,
cervical polyps, post-coital bleeding, fungating mass, bleeding per vagina, recurrent cervical cancer and
metastatic cervical cancer. In conclusion, the findings suggest that cervical carcinoma is still common among
women visiting our hospital to seek medical attention for various conditions of the uterine cervix with
squamous cell carcinoma being the most prevalent histological type. Policies that promote the
implementation, monitoring and evaluation, screening and vaccination have to be considered to reduce the
burden of cervical cancer in our environment