Histologically Diagnosed Cancers: University of Maiduguri Teaching Hospital Cancer Registry Experience (1994 – 1998)

Abstract

The University of Maiduguri Teaching Hospital (UMTH), hospital-based cancer registry was established in 1999. Located in the Department of Histolathology, it is aimed at providing baseline data for medical research, patient management, health planning and cancer prevention. In this report, we have analyzed 880 histologically confirmed cancers seen over a five-year period (January 1994 – December 1998). A slight predominance of cancers in females is observed over the males with a male to female ratio of 1:1.2. Cancers of uterine cervix, followed by skin and breast top the list in females. Skin and bladder cancers are the two commonest malignancies in males. Suggested prevention strategies include health education, cancer screening of high-risk groups and proper control of cancer-associated environmental factors.


Mary Slessor Journal of Medicine Vol.3(2) 2003:36-40