Pattern of Pre-Malignant Cervical Lesions among Women Attending HIV Clinic in a Tertiary Hospital in North East Nigeria

Abstract

Background: Almost all cervical cancers are preceded by premalignant lesions which may take up to 25 years to progress to invasive cancer. The prevalence of premalignant cervical lesions has been shown to be higher in HIV-Positive women than in HIV-Negative women, with more severe lesions being commoner in HIV-Positive women. This study offers the opportunity to assess the magnitude of the problem of premalignant cervical lesions among HIV-Positive Women in FTH Gombe and to determine the types of lesions common among them. Objective: To determine the pattern of premalignant cervical lesions among HIV-Positive non-pregnant women at FTH Gombe. Methodology: The study is a cross-sectional descriptive study conducted on HIV-positive women in FTH Gombe. Three hundred and sixty-three HIVpositive non-pregnant women were screened for premalignant cervical lesions using the liquid-based cytology method and the results were analysed. Results: Out of 363 patients screened, 21 specimens were inadequate for reporting and therefore excluded from the analysis. Of the 342 results analysed, 57 had abnormal cytology, giving a prevalence of 16.67% for abnormal cytology. The predominant cytological abnormality was LSIL which accounted for 75.44% while atypical squamous cells (ASCUS/ASC-H) and HSIL made up 15.79% and 8.77% respectively. There was no invasive or glandular lesion. Three hundred and forty-one (99.71%) patients were on HAART, with a mean duration of 7.22 years. Conclusion: The prevalence of premalignant cervical lesions in this study was low, and high-grade lesions were uncommon. The high rate and prolonged use of HAART by the patients suggest its possible contribution to the low prevalence.