Cytology Services Utilisation Pattern in North-Central Nigeria | Chapter 13 | Current Trends in Medicine and Medical Research Vol. 3
Introduction:
Cytology is a
simple, fast, low
cost, minimally invasive
and sensitive technique
for evaluating cells sampled from
lesions in the
body. Cytology also has
the peculiar advantages
of minimal invasiveness, low cost and speed. It is an aspect of
pathology service at its fledgling stage in most institutions in sub-Saharan
African countries.
Aims:
This study examined
the pattern of
the cytology samples
received in the
laboratory of a relatively new tertiary hospital in north-central
Nigeria.
Materials
and Methods:
Three years archival slides and records of cytology samples were retrieved and
analysed.
Results:
Cytology specimens were 775 (27.5%) of 2,823 samples accessioned during the period. Most
of the samples
were cervical smears
constituting 436 (56.3%)
and an annual
rate of 218 samples
per year. This
was followed by
134 (17.3%) breast
fine needle aspiration
(FNA) with an annual rate of 67 samples per year. The 48
(6.2%) lymph nodes FNA samples had an annual rate of 24 samples per year. Soft
tissue and thyroidmasses were 40 (5.2%) and 37 (4.8%), respectively. The sites
of other less commonly requested cytology samples in this study included the
liver, nose, eyes, testes, urine and peritoneal fluids. The patients’ age
ranged from 14 months to 80 years.
Conclusions:
This study shows
a still very
low utilisation of
cytology services in
management of patients. There
remains the need
of developing diagnostic
cytology services in
Nigeria, taking advantage of its
low cost, accuracy and timeliness as a simple, yet highly useful diagnostic
tool in a resource deficient environment. In the north –central region of
Nigeria, cytology is still grossly under-utilized as
a diagnostic tool
in the management
of patients. Although
mostly employed in
routine cervical cancer screening, other patients need to benefit more
from this simple, minimally invasive, cheap, highly sensitive and accurate
investigative modality.
Author(s) Details
Raymond Akpobome
Vhriterhire
Department of Anatomical
Pathology, College of Health Sciences, Benue State University, Makurdi,
Nigeria.
Joseph Aondowase Orkuma
Department of Anatomical
Pathology, College of Health Sciences, Benue State University, Makurdi,
Nigeria.
Joseph Aondowase Ngbea
Department of Anatomical
Pathology, College of Health Sciences, Benue State University, Makurdi,
Nigeria.
Barnabas Agaba Eke
Department of Anatomical
Pathology, College of Health Sciences, Benue State University, Makurdi,
Nigeria.
Godwin T. A. Jombo
Department of Anatomical
Pathology, College of Health Sciences, Benue State University, Makurdi,
Nigeria.
Amali Adekwu
Department of Human
Physiology, University ofJos, Jos, Plateau State, Nigeria.
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