Histological types of ovarian tumours as seen in an African teaching hospital in north-eastern Nigeria

During the period January 1989 to December 1997, there were 116 histological proven ovarian neoplasms seen in the University of Maiduguri Teaching Hospital, Maiduguri. Ninety-two (79.3%) patients had benign tumours while the remaining 20.7% had ovarian cancer. Epithelial tumour were the commonest histological type (40.7%) followed by germ cell tumours. Benign cystic teratoma (25.0%) was the commonest benign tumour while the commonest malignant tumour was serous cystadenocarcinoma (7.7%).