Choriocarcinoma in Ibadan, Nigeria: Epidemiologic Aspects

Summary

Choriocarcinoma, the third most common malignant tumor in Nigerian females, is more frequent than malignant ovarian neoplasms but less frequent than cervical and breast cancer. It was diagnosed in 66% of 285 histologic materials registered as malignant trophoblastic disease. Its ratio frequency in our Cancer Registry over a 12-year period was 2.2%. Choriocarcinoma had a necropsy ratio of 1∶89 and peak age frequency in the third or fourth decades of life. The uterus was the most common site of the primary growth, and hematogenous metastases were widespread. An increased aggregation of mononuclear cells around the tumor was observed.