Histopathological Analysis of Epithelial Ovarian Cancers in Yola, North-Eastern Nigeria

Abstract

Background: Ovarian cancer was the eighth most common cause of cancer and cancer-related death among women worldwide in 2022. In Nigeria, ovarian cancer was the 7th most common cancer and the 8th leading cause of cancer-related death. Ovarian cancers comprise epithelial and non-epithelial ovarian malignancies. Epithelial ovarian cancer (EOC) is the most prevalent type, accounting for more than 90% of cases, whereas approximately 5% are non-epithelial ovarian cancers. Aims: This study aimed to analyse EOCs using the most recent WHO classification of ovarian tumours so that accurate and adequate treatment could be offered. Methodology: This retrospective study comprised all epithelial ovarian cancers diagnosed in the Department of Anatomic Pathology and Forensic Medicine, Modibbo Adama University Teaching Hospital, Yola, Adamawa State, from January 2010 to December 2025. Data from all patients diagnosed with epithelial ovarian cancers were analysed using simple descriptive statistics. Results: A total of eighty-eight (88) cases of epithelial ovarian cancers (EOCs) were analysed during the study period. The mean age at occurrence was 51.7 years, with an age range of 19–87 years. The prevalence of EOCs was highest in the 5th decade of life. Among the epithelial ovarian cancers, serous carcinomas predominated: high-grade (n  62, 70.4%) and low-grade (n  4, 4.6%), followed by mucinous carcinoma. Epithelial ovarian cancer was also observed to be more common in the right ovary than in the left ovary. Conclusion: This study showed that epithelial ovarian cancer occurred most frequently in the 5th decade of life. High-grade and low-grade serous carcinomas are two distinct epithelial ovarian cancer subtypes, with the former predominating.