A ten-year pathological study of renal tumours in Port Harcourt, Nigeria

Background: To determine the relative frequency of renal tumours with respect to age, sex and clinical presentation. Method: A retrospective review of histologic reports and clinical notes. Nephrectomy and renal specimens from autopsy were routinely processed and stained with hematoxylin and Eosin (H E) stain. The completed slides were viewed under the light microscope for the diagnosis of the tumours. Results: Thirty nine specimens accounting for 0.5% of the total tumours satisfied the criteria for the study. Thirty seven tumours (94.9%) were malignant while 2(5.1%) were benign. The youngest was an 8 months old female while the oldest was a 65 year old female. A total of 24(61.5%) tumours occurred in males while 15(38.5%) in females giving a sex ratio of 1.6:1. Nephroblastoma (64.1%) was the commonest malignancy and majority occurred in children while renal cell carcinoma was the most common adult renal tumour. Haematuria was the most frequent clinical presentation. Conclusion: Renal tumours are rare in this environment but they may pose a significant morbidity and mortality. Though some present with severe clinical symptoms others may go unnoticed.