International Journal of TROPICAL DISEASE & Health

Aim: To determine the prevalence of vascular tumours, and their morphology at Federal Medical Centre and Benue State University Teaching Hospital Makurdi.

Study Design: Retrospective study of vascular tumours at the two tertiary healthcare institutions.

Methodology: All the cases of vascular tumours seen, histopathologically diagnosed and managed between March 2012 and February 2017 at the two hospitals were studied. Data collected from the patient’s files included age, sex, anatomical site, and the histopathological diagnosis.

Results: Fifty nine patients with vascular tumours that were histopathologically diagnosed during the 5 year period were studied. There were 23 (39%) males and 36 (61%) females giving a male female ratio of 1:1.6. The age group 21 – 30 years was mostly affected by various types of vascular tumours. Benign tumours were the commonest and occurred in 36 (61%) patients. Intermediate (locally aggressive/rarely metastasizing) tumours constituted 21 (35.6%) cases. Malignant tumours were 2 (3.4%) in numbers. Most of the tumours 36 (61%) occurred in the head and neck region.

Conclusion: Benign tumours are still the commonest vascular tumours. Human Immune Deficiency Virus/Acquired Immune Deficiency Syndrome (HIV/ AIDS) pandemic is increasing the number of cases and severity of Kaposi sarcoma, an intermediate rarely metastasizing vascular tumour. There is need for more health education and improved healthcare geared towards the prevention and treatment of the Kaposi disease.