HISTOPATHOLOGICAL ANALYSIS OF NON-NEOPLASTIC OVARIAN LESIONS SEEN IN A TERTIARY HEALTH CENTRE IN NORTH WESTERN NIGERIA

INTRODUCTION: Ovarian lesions may present as enlargements of the ovary and may occur at any age. Non-neoplastic enlargements develop almost exclusively during the childbearing years. They may be asymptomatic or, in rare cases, cause acute symptoms due to complications and account for the most prevalent cause of hospital admissions. They frequently form a pelvic mass and potentially mimic an ovarian neoplasm. OBJECTIVE: To study the frequency and histopathological classification of non-neoplastic ovarian lesions in a tertiary institution in North-western Nigeria. METHODOLOGY: A retrospective study in which surgical biopsy specimens seen over a 9-year period were reviewed with respect to age and histopathological characteristics. RESULTS: A total of 83 non-neoplastic lesions were histologically diagnosed during the period under review. They constitute 5.16 % and 40.9 % of both gynaecological and ovarian samples received respectively. Of which 33.7% were Corpus luteum, 13.3% were both Follicular cysts and simple cysts respectively. Luteoma of pregnancy and Infarction constitute 9.6% each respectively. Endometriosis and no pathology as part of TAH, 6.0% respectively. Ovarian ectopic gestation was 4.8% cases, Nonspecific inflammation (oophoritis) 2.4%, and 1.2% complex cyst. Majority of cases 45.8% occurred among women in the third decade and 26.5% in the fourth decade, cases within the fifth decade were 9.6% and the second decade constituted 8.4% cases. CONCLUSION: Ovarian non-neoplastic lesions are common in our environment; they potentially mimic ovarian neoplasms thereby posing a diagnostic challenge. Proper classifications are important for appropriate management.