Histopathological pattern of nasopharyngeal carcinoma in Benin City

Abstract

A retrospective analysis of nasopharyngeal tissue biopsies sent to the department of histopathology, University of Benin Teaching Hospital over a ten year period (January 2000 to December 2009) was carried out to define the histopathological pattern of nasopharyngeal carcinoma (NPC) in Nigerian patients in Edo state. Parameters included in the review where histological types of NPC according to the world health organization (WHO) classification, age, gender, and lymph node metastasis. All histological diagnosed cases of nasopharyngeal carcinoma where studied within a 20-year study period. Total number of patients with NPC was 106 with ages ranging from 9 to 63years. The median and mean ages were 33 years and 32.1±16.7years respectively with a male: female ratio of 4:1.The predominant WHO type was type III which accounted for 83% of the cases. WHO type I and II cases cases accounted for 15.1% and 1.9% respectively. Most of the cases had cervical lymph node metastasis (70.2%). The histopathological pattern of NPC in Benin resembles those seen in other parts of Nigeria and non endemic areas of the world. It is how ever characterized by an earlier age of onset, male predominance, a preponderance of undifferentiated (WHO type 3) tumours and late presentation