Pattern of primary gynecological malignancies as seen in a tertiary hospital situated in the Rivers State of Nigeria.

Between January 1984 and December 1987, out of a total gynecological admission of 1706 patients at the University of Port Harcourt Teaching Hospital, 72 had primary cancers of the female genital organs (excluding malignant trophoblastic diseases). Of those, 53 had cervical, 10 ovarian, 6 endometrial and 3, vulval cancers. There were no cases of vaginal or fallopian tubal cancers. Ovarian cancer was the commonest gynecological cancer before the age of 40 while cervical cancer was commonest after 40. Germ cell tumors of the ovary were frequent. Patients with endometrial cancer reported early to hospital for treatment but those with other types of cancers generally reported late. On account of late arrival to hospital, inadequate medical facilities and a high defaulting rate, the outcome of treatment was very poor. Since evidence exists to the effect that cervical cancer may be sexually transmitted, a plea is made for the promotion of the widespread use of condoms in order to reduce the prevalence of invasive carcinoma of the cervix in developing countries.