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. 2022 Apr-Jun;21(2):153-157.
doi: 10.4103/aam.aam_101_20.

Prostate cancer characteristics: A descriptive analysis of clinical features at presentation in the last decade in a black African community

Fredrick O Ugwumba  1 , Ikenna I Nnabugwu  2
Affiliations

Prostate cancer characteristics: A descriptive analysis of clinical features at presentation in the last decade in a black African community

Fredrick O Ugwumba et al. Ann Afr Med. 2022 Apr-Jun.

Abstract
in English, French

Background: Prostate cancer, previously reported as relatively rare in Nigeria, is currently the leading cancer and leading cause of cancer-related death in men. Late presentation appears to persist despite higher incidence rates and instituted awareness programs. This study assesses current prostate cancer indices at presentation to a 3rd tier referral hospital in South-east Nigeria and compares these indices with reported indices from previous decades.

Materials and methods: Retrospectively, the medical records of men presenting with histologically confirmed prostate cancer from January 2009 to April 2018 were reviewed. Age, spectrum and duration of clinical features, serum total prostate-specific antigen (tPSA), and prostate biopsy specimen Gleason Score (GS) at presentation were retrieved for the analysis using the SPSS software version 21. Obtained mean values and proportions were compared to reports from previous decades for observable shifts.

Results: The medical records of 331 men 51-90 years of age (mean: 69.8 ± 8.0 years) were retrieved. Six (1.8%) men (median tPSA = 28.0 ng/ml; range 10.0-121.4 ng/ml) had screening-detected prostate cancer. About 72.0%, 52.0%, and 30.3% of men present with symptoms after 3 months, 6 months, and 12 months, respectively, and about 55.1% had other clinical features of disease progression beyond lower urinary tract symptoms. Symptom duration, serum tPSA (median 31.4 ng/ml; range 4.0-710.0 ng/ml), and % fPSA (median 20.6%; range 57.1%-8.6%) at presentation, as well as prevalent poorly-differentiated tumor (GS ≥7 [4 + 3] 62.2%) are yet to shift from reports from previous decades.

Conclusions: Prostate cancer indices at presentation in South-eastern Nigeria, a resource-poor community in sub-Saharan Africa are yet to positively shift despite efforts at prostate cancer awareness.

RésuméContexte: Le cancer de la prostate, déjà signalé comme relativement rare au Nigeria, est actuellement le principal cancer et la principale cause de décès par cancer chez les hommes. La présentation tardive semble persister malgré des taux d'incidence plus élevés et des programmes de sensibilisation ont été mis en place. Cette étude évalue les indices actuels du cancer de la prostate à la présentation à un hôpital de référence de troisième niveau dans le sud-est du Nigeria, et compare ces indices avec les indices rapportés des décennies précédentes. Méthodes: Rétrospectivement, les dossiers médicaux des hommes présentant un cancer de la prostate confirmé par histologie de janvier 2009 à avril 2018 ont été examinés. L'âge, le spectre et la durée des caractéristiques cliniques, l'antigène prostatique total sérique spécifique (tPSA) et l'échantillon de biopsie de la prostate Gleason Score (GS) à la présentation ont été récupérés pour analyse à l'aide de la version 21 de SPSS. Les valeurs moyennes et les proportions obtenues ont été comparées aux rapports des décennies précédentes sur les changements observables. Résultats: Les dossiers médicaux de 331 hommes âgés de 51 à 90ans (moyenne : 69,8 8,0 ans) ont été récupérés. Six hommes (1,8 %) (tPSA médiane = 28,0ng/ml; plage de 10,0 à 121,4ng/ml) avaient un cancer de la prostate dépisté. Environ 72,0%, 52,0% et 30,3% des hommes présentent des symptômes après 3mois, 6mois et 12mois respectivement, et environ 55,1% présentent d'autres caractéristiques cliniques de la progression de la maladie au-delà des symptômes des voies urinaires inférieures (LUTS). La durée des symptômes, le tPSA sérique (médiane de 31,4 ng/ml; fourchette de 4,0 à 710 ng/ml) et le %fPSA (médiane de 20,6 %; fourchette de 57,1 à 8,6 %) à la présentation, ainsi que la tumeur mal différenciée prévalente (GS 7{4+3} 62,2 %) ne sont pas encore passés des rapports des décennies précédentes. Conclusions: Les indices du cancer de la prostate présentés dans le sud-est du Nigeria, une communauté noire africaine pauvre en ressources, n'ont pas encore changé de façon positive malgré les efforts de sensibilisation au cancer de la prostate. Mots-clés: Présentation à l'hôpital; Nigéria; Cancer de la prostate; Changements temporels.

Keywords: Hospital presentation; Nigeria; prostate cancer; temporal changes.

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Conflict of interest statement

None

Figures

Figure 1
Figure 1
The average duration of symptoms at presentation to specialist care at the 3rd tier hospital in each year. There is no evidence that men are presenting earlier with shorter symptom duration at first presentation
Figure 2
Figure 2
Changes in the average total prostate-specific antigen values among men presenting with symptoms leading to histologic diagnosis of prostate cancer from 2009 to 2018. There is no observable reduction in median serum total prostate-specific antigen at presentation
Figure 3
Figure 3
Variation in mean Gleason score of men presenting with histologic diagnosis of prostate cancer from 2009 to 2018. There is no evidence of shift in mean Gleason score at presentation toward less aggressive tumors
See this image and copyright information in PMC

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