HISTOPATHOLOGICAL PATTERNS OF CERVICAL CANCER AMONG FEMALES PRESENTING TO MAKERERE UNIVERSITY PATHOLOGY CORE REFERENCE LABORATORY. A 5-YEAR REVIEW

The study aimed to determine the histopathological pattern of cervical cancer among females presenting to Makerere university pathology core reference laboratory. Information on patients who had a cervical cancer diagnosis by histology from 2017 to 2021.The Data collected was analyzed using SPSS version 18. A total of 120 patients from 2017 to 2021 were recruited into the study. The mean age of the patients was 47.5 (SD 13.1), the youngest patient was 21 years and the oldest was 80 years of age. Cervical cancer was more prevalent in women aged between 35 to 54 years 77(64.2%) and women with HIV infection 26(21.7%). Squamous cell carcinoma presents in 102 (85%) patients was the most prevalent pattern of cervical cancer. This was followed by adenocarcinoma 7 (5.8%) and adenosquamous 5 (4.2%) histological patterns of cervical cancer. Cervical cancer is predominant among women with HIV and women aged 35-55 years. Squamous cell carcinoma is the most prevalent pattern of cervical cancer in Uganda present in every 9 out 10 cervical cancer patients. Routine screening of all HIV positive women and women aged 35 years and above is recommended.