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HISTOPATHOLOGICAL PATTERNS OF CERVICAL CANCER AMONG FEMALES PRESENTING TO A PATHOLOGY CORE REFERENCE LABORATORY IN KAMPALA, UGANDA

Mwanja Moses

Cervical cancer is the fourth most common cancer among women globally, with an estimated 604 000 new cases and 342,000 deaths in 2020, about 90% of these occur in low- and middle-income countries, having highest rates in sub-Saharan Africa. Cervical cancer is the leading cause of cancer morbidity and mortality in Ugandan women with estimated 6959 new cases and 4607 deaths in 2020. The histopathological differentiation of cervical cancer is a major determinant in treatment options and prognosis of disease. However, there is a paucity of data regarding this in Uganda. The study aimed to determine the histopathological pattern of cervical cancer among females presenting to Makerere university pathology core reference laboratory.

Methodology: A retrospective cross-sectional study employing the use of quantitative methods of data collection was conducted within Makerere university pathology core reference laboratory. The study obtained information on patients who had a cervical cancer diagnosis by histology from 2017 to 2021. The data was descriptively analyzed using SPSS version 21.

Results: A total of 120 patients from 2017 to 2021 were recruited into the study. The mean age of the patients was 47.5 (SD 13.1), the youngest patient was 21 and the oldest was 80 years. Cervical cancer was more prevalent in women aged between 35 to 54 years 77(64.2%) and women with HIV infection 26(21.7%). Squamous cell carcinoma present in 102 (85%) patients was the most prevalent pattern of cervical cancer. This was followed by adenocarcinoma 7(5.8%) and adenosquamous 5(4.2%) histological patterns of cervical cancer.

Conclusions: Cervical cancer is predominant among women with HIV and women aged 35-55 years. Squamous cell carcinoma is the most prevalent pattern of cervical cancer in Uganda present in every 9 out of 10 patients. Routine screening of all HIV positive women and women aged 35 and above is recommended.