Histopathological study of vesical carcinoma in Plateau State, Nigeria

Thirty-eight cases of vesical carcinoma, diagnosed at the Jos University Teaching Hospital during a 6-year period, were reviewed. Malignant tumours of the urinary bladder represent 2.7% of all cancers and the prevalence rate of vesical carcinomas is 6.7 per 100,000. Squamous cell carcinoma accounts for 52.6% of all cases whilst transitional cell, mixed and adenocarcinomas constitute 26.3%, 15.8% and 5.3%, respectively. Generally, the male: female ratio is 2.5: 1 and most tumours occur in the fifth decade of life. Schistosomiasis endemicity is believed to be responsible for the preponderance of the squamous cell carcinoma type.