Neoplastic and non-neoplastic ovarian disease in Zimbabwean women

Disease of the ovary are a significant cause of morbidity and mortality amongst Zimbabwean women. There is however, scanty data regarding the types and extent of these conditions. A retrospective review of histologically diagnosed ovarian disease was carried out in order to determine the types, prevalence and age distribution of ovarian pathology seen in Harare over a 22 month period. Pathological changes were reported in 368 ovarian samples. Forty four pc of the lesions were neoplastic and of that number, 28 pc were malignant. Non-neoplastic lesions were mainly functional cysts or sequellae of inflammation. The mean age of the patients was 32 years (range four to 78 years). Patients with non-neoplastic lesions were between 10 and 60 years old. Neoplastic conditions occurred throughout the age spectrum and were the only lesions seen in patients under 10 or over 60 years old. In the hospital population reviewed, the prevalence of symptomatic non-neoplastic ovarian lesions was found to be similar to that of neoplastic ovarian tumours. Functional cysts were commonest (33 pc), white epithelial and germ cell tumours accounted for 20 pc and 14 pc respectively. Granulosa cell tumours occurred more commonly than reported elsewhere. The age distribution was remarkable in that there was a 50 pc chance of neoplastic ovarian disease occurring in patients under 20 years old.