To review retrospectively
hysterectomy specimens sent to the histopathological department of the Obafemi Awolowo University Teaching Hospitals Complex, Ile-Ife, Nigeria in order to document the histopathological findings and relate these with the age of patients. The records of patients with
hysterectomy specimens sent to the histopathological laboratory within a period of 10 years were studied. Some of the histological slides were reviewed. The diagnosis of uterovaginal
prolapse was based on clinical as well as pathological findings. Three hundred and thirty
hysterectomy specimens seen over the study period of 10 years were studied. Women aged 40-49 years accounted for the highest number of cases,
Hysterectomy was most often performed for
leiomyoma (48%). followed by uterovaginal
prolapse (17%). In women over the age of 70 years
hysterectomy was most often performed for uterovaginal
prolapse. Complication of pregnancy still accounted for a high percentage of
hysterectomy (11%) Most were ante-partum and post partum haemorrhages as well as
septic abortion in young women Ten of the specimens were normal both grossly and microscopically. Six of these were removed for suspected
leiomyoma. The peak age incidence for women with
leiomyoma who had
hysterectomy corresponds with the overall peak age for women who had
Hysterectomy.
Leiomyoma was the commonest finding in
hysterectomy specimens. However, clinicians should ensure that the condition is accurately diagnosed in all cases to avoid removal of a normal uterus.