Histological Characteristics of Upper and Lower Gastrointestinal Lesions in A Region in West Africa

Aims Gastrointestinal tract inflammation (GTI) such as; colitis, duodenitis, gastritis, ileitis, and proctitis, invariably pose serious risk such as; gastrointestinal (GI) malignancy, acidpeptic disease including peptic ulcer, and gastro oesophageal diseases, which results to source of morbidity and mortality globally. The prevalence and forms of GTI vary across populations, influenced by genomic and environmental factors, unhealthy diets, smoking, and alcohol consumption. Unfortunately, the incidences of gastrointestinal diseases are rarely evaluated in developing countries like Nigeria. Histopathological assessment offers critical insights into the characteristics and advancement of GTI, facilitating precise diagnosis, prognosis, and effective therapeutic measures.

Methods This study evaluates the histological characteristics of Upper and lower gastrointestinal lesions taken during endoscopy procedures in a Nigerian population. A total of 235 histological reports of patients were evaluated to ascertain the incidence and distribution of histological diagnosis and tissue specimens. The patient age range was from 12 to 86 years, with a mean age of 51.77 years. 147 participants were male and 77 were female, indicating higher prevalence in males [1] [2].

Results Colon biopsies comprised 34.7% of cases, followed by stomach biopsies at 27.6% and rectal biopsies at 8.4%. Rectal polyps accounted for 4.6%, while colon polyps made for 8.8%. Histological diagnosis included adenocarcinoma (11.3%), chronic non-specific colitis (10%), and hyperplastic gastritis (7.9%). Dysplastic adenomatous polyps were observed, with high-grade dysplasia present in 0.4% of cases and moderate dysplasia (1.7%). Chronic colitis exhibited localized erosion and dysplasia, while chronic gastritis was mainly erosive, while some cases linked to Helicobacter pylori infection were prominent in the finding of this study. Inflammatory polyps and hyperplastic lesions were also identified, with hyperplastic duodenitis and inflammatory polyps accounting for 3.8% and 3.3%, respectively. Additionally, uncommon occurrences of rectal adenocarcinoma, melanosis coli, and squamous papilloma were identified.

Conclusions The study provides insight into the histological range of GI lesions in the Nigerian population, with adenocarcinoma and chronic inflammatory diseases being the most prevalent diagnoses. However, the study's findings, particularly the high prevalence rate of carcinoma and adenocarcinoma among individuals between the age of 51-52 years (the mean age of the study), highlight the urgent need for early detection and management of risk factors like H. pylori to prevent the progression of gastrointestinal lesions in the region.

Publication History

Article published online:
27 March 2025

• References

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