Histological spectrum of soft-tissue tumors in a tertiary hospital

Objective: The objective of this work was to determine the histological pattern of soft-tissue tumors diagnosed in our hospital and compare findings with those of other places. Background: A comprehensive record of the pattern of histologically diagnosed tumors is a fundamental requirement for good cancer screening policies, effective therapeutic decisions, and developing a regional cancer registry. The objective of this work was to determine the histological pattern of soft-tissue tumors diagnosed in our hospital and compare findings with those of other places. Materials and Methods: A retrospective audit of soft-tissue samples submitted in the histopathology laboratory of a tertiary hospital in Makurdi, North Central Nigeria, was carried out. Results: One hundred and eighty-eight soft-tissue tumors were diagnosed in the study period, and they had a male: female ratio of 1:1.2, with a mean age of 35.05 ± 18.9 years, and the most frequent occurrence in the fourth decade. Benign tumors were more common, 67.0% (n = 126), than malignant ones, 33.0% (n = 62). Lipoma accounted for the largest proportion of the tumors accounting for 38.9% (n = 49) of benign and 26.1% (n = 49/188) of all the soft-tissue tumors. Embryonal rhabdomyosarcoma was the most frequent malignant tumor, with peak occurrence in the first decade, and comprised 25.8% (16/62) of the malignant soft-tissue tumors and 8.5% (n = 16/188) of all soft-tissue tumors. Kaposi sarcoma, a tumor of intermediate malignancy, consisted of 24.2% (n = 15/62) of the malignant soft-tissue tumors. The remaining malignant soft-tissue tumors found in this study included pleomorphic rhabdomyosarcoma, alveolar rhabdomyosarcoma, liposarcoma, angiosarcoma, pleomorphic sarcoma, malignant fibrous histiocytoma, and hemangiopericytoma. Conclusion: Lipoma was the single most common soft-tissue tumor. Half of all the malignant tumors consisted of embryonal rhabdomyosarcomas, most frequent first decade of life, and Kaposi sarcoma, a tumor of intermediate malignancy.