Cancers in young patients in Uyo (Niger-delta region of Nigeria): magnitude of the problem and histopathological prolife

Cancers are thought to be rarer in younger population, but emerging data show an increasing incidence of these diseases. The aim of this study was to evaluate the clinicopathological characteristics of cancer among young patients (>= 30 years) in Uyo, Nigeria. All specimens were collected and reviewed during the period January 2007-December 2012; complete clinicopathological data were also considered. A total of 108 cases of proven cancers were diagnosed (3.4%). accounting for 14.1% of all malignancies. A male:female ratio of 1:3.2 was recorded. Among 0-14-year-old patients, the most common malignancy was embryonal cancer (50.0%). followed by non Hodgkin's lymphoma (18.8%). Carcinoma of the breast and soft tissue sarcoma represent first and second cancers in those patients (40.7% and 13.0% respectively). Carcinoma of uterine cervix and nodal lymphomas were the third and fourth most common cancers respectively (10.2% and 7.4%), significantly higher in the 21-30 years and 0-10 years age groups. Invasive ductal carcinoma, squamous cell carcinoma, Kaposi sarcoma and Hodgkin's lymphoma were the most common histologic types of cancers in breast, uterine cervix, lymph node and soft tissue (79.6%, 90.0%, 44.4%, 50.0% respectively). This study shows that embryonal cancer was the most common malignancy in patients aged 0 to 14. while carcinoma of the breast and soft tissue sarcoma were the two most common cancers in patients from 5 to 30 years-old.