N Mbah1, I H Abdulkareem, A Panti. 1. Department of Surgery, Usmanu Danfodiyo University Teaching Hospital (UDUTH), Sokoto. mbanonso@yahoo.co.uk
Abstract
BACKGROUND: Since the advent of the HIV/AIDS pandemic, Kaposi's sarcoma (KS) is now seen in places not previously considered endemic for this disease. In Nigeria, the African-endemic KS had been known to be prevalent in the southern parts of the country, particularly the southeast. Until now, reports on the disease from northern Nigeria are few. OBJECTIVE: To describe the prevalence ofKaposi's sarcoma in Sokoto, northwestern Nigeria. METHOD: A retrospective review of 27 cases of histologically confirmed KS seen over an 11-year period (Jan.1994-Dec.2004) at the Usmanu Danfodiyo University Teaching Hospital (UDUTH), Sokoto, Northwestern Nigeria. RESULTS: The average hospital incidence of KS in this review was 2.5 cases per annum (27 cases in 11 years). The modal age was the 4th decade of life (range 18-70 years). Fifteen percent were females; M: F = 5.8: 1. There was no case of childhood involvement identified. More cases of the disease were HIV-positive (59.3%). The commonest symptom was cutaneous nodules in 96.3% of cases. The body region with the highest affectation of the lesions was the lower limb (70.4%). CONCLUSION: Kaposi's sarcoma is still uncommon in the northwestern region of Nigeria. The epidemic variant of the disease predominates among the few cases diagnosed. The finding of nodular lesions and/or indurated leg swelling in any adult male in our environment must be considered to be KS until histologically investigated.
BACKGROUND: Since the advent of the HIV/AIDS pandemic, Kaposi's sarcoma (KS) is now seen in places not previously considered endemic for this disease. In Nigeria, the African-endemic KS had been known to be prevalent in the southern parts of the country, particularly the southeast. Until now, reports on the disease from northern Nigeria are few. OBJECTIVE: To describe the prevalence ofKaposi's sarcoma in Sokoto, northwestern Nigeria. METHOD: A retrospective review of 27 cases of histologically confirmed KS seen over an 11-year period (Jan.1994-Dec.2004) at the Usmanu Danfodiyo University Teaching Hospital (UDUTH), Sokoto, Northwestern Nigeria. RESULTS: The average hospital incidence of KS in this review was 2.5 cases per annum (27 cases in 11 years). The modal age was the 4th decade of life (range 18-70 years). Fifteen percent were females; M: F = 5.8: 1. There was no case of childhood involvement identified. More cases of the disease were HIV-positive (59.3%). The commonest symptom was cutaneous nodules in 96.3% of cases. The body region with the highest affectation of the lesions was the lower limb (70.4%). CONCLUSION:Kaposi's sarcoma is still uncommon in the northwestern region of Nigeria. The epidemic variant of the disease predominates among the few cases diagnosed. The finding of nodular lesions and/or indurated leg swelling in any adult male in our environment must be considered to be KS until histologically investigated.