Histopathologic Patterns of Adipocytic Tumours in University of Benin Teaching Hospital; A Twenty Year Retrospective Study
E. I. Odokuma *
Dept of Human Anatomy and Cell Biology, Delta State University, Abraka, Nigeria.
V. J. Ekanem
Dept of Morbid Anatomy, University of Benin, Benin City, Nigeria.
O.E. Osemeke
Dept of Human Anatomy and Cell Biology, Delta State University, Abraka, Nigeria.
*Author to whom correspondence should be addressed.
Abstract
Introduction: Adipocytic (lipomatous) tumours have been described as soft tissue neoplasms composed of adipocytes at different stages of maturity. The predominant benign varieties are usually managed by surgical excision and therefore have much better prognosis than the malignant forms which have been associated with high fatality ratio. A detailed study of these lesions is therefore of enormous significance especially with the malignant varieties.
Materials and Method: The records of consultations during the 20-year period in the Department of Morbid Anatomy, University of Benin Teaching Hospital were utilized for the study. Relevant clinical information was obtained from the available surgical pathology records. Approval for this study was obtained from University of Benin Teaching Hospital ethics committee; (Protocol number ADM/E22/VOLVII/742).
Results: A total of three hundred and twenty-five lesions (325) were recorded. Female cases (169; 52%) were observed to be more than in their male counterparts (156; 48%) but their frequencies were strongly correlated (p<0.001; r = 0.95). Benign tumours constituted the bulk of the tumours (312; 96%) while only 4% (13) were malignant. Most malignant adipocytic tumours were observed to occur in males 68% (8) and these were distributed within the second to ninth decade unlike in females where the lesions peaked in the fifth decade of life. Lipomas were the most common type of benign adipocytic tumours 99% (308). In this study, thirteen cases of liposarcomas were recorded.
Conclusion: This study demonstrated that lipoma’s were the most common adipocytic soft tissue tumours. Generally, adipocytic tumours were commoner in females in the fourth decade of life, especially on the skin of the back and head amongst others and were majorly benign.
Keywords: Histopathologic, adipocytic, lipoma, gender, age, distribution, type.