Endometrial pathology in a teaching hospital in North Central Nigeria: a histopathological survey

Abstract

The study was a 5 year histopathological survey of endometrial biopsies seen at the University of Ilorin Teaching Hospital , Ilorin, North Central Nigeria from January 1st 1997 to December 31st 2001. It aimed at identifying the morphological patterns of endometrial disorders, prevalence of these disorders and the histopathological changes associated with the clinical diagnosis in Ilorin, Nigeria. Eight hundred and eighty two slides of cases of endometrial disorders recorded in the register of the Department of Pathology, University of Ilorin Teaching Hospital, Ilorin, North Central Nigeria were reviewed. Clinical data on each of the cases was retrieved from request cards. The pathological reports and clinical data were recorded noting the age, clinical history, morphological description of lesions and the histological types. The mean age of the studied group was 28 years. The commonest indication for endometrial sampling was infertility (55.3%) while secretory phase endometrium was the most common histological diagnosis followed by placental and foetal tissues (20.3%). The commonest pathological finding was hydatiform mole (1.5%). Others include chronic non specific endometritis (1.36%), acute on chronic endometritis (1.25%) and simple endometrial hyperplasia (1.25%). The prevalence rate of tuberculous endometritis and endometrial carcinoma were low at 0.34% and 0.81% respectively. While infertility and secretory phase endometrium continue to be the commonest indication and diagnosis in endometrial biopsies respectively, the procedure as an indispensable diagnostic tool can be improved on by the use of immunohistochemical techniques, endometrial culture and accurate and detail completion of histopathological request forms by clinicians.

Keywords: endometrium, biopsies, pathology

Nigerian Journal of Health and Biomedical Sciences Vol. 4(2) 2005: 107-111