SSRG International Journal of Medical Science ( SSRG – IJMS ) – Volume 5 Issue 6 – June 2018 ISSN: 2393 - 9117 http://ww.internationaljournalssrg.org Page 1 A Review of Histologically Diagnosed Neurofibroma; an Institution Based Study Spanning a Decade Akhator Terence Azeke #1 , Dele Eradebamwen Imasogie *2 #1 Department of Anatomic Pathology, Irrua Specialist Teaching Hospital University, Edo State, Nigeria *2 Department of Morbid Anatomy, University of Benin Teaching Hospital, P.M.B 111, Ugbowo, Benin City, Edo State, Nigeria. Abstract Introduction: Neurofibromas are common cutaneous benign tumours. They have the potentials to become malignant and are of great cosmetic concern with associated morbidity. These are potential health burden to both human and capital resources. The aim of this study is to determine the frequency, age and sex distribution of histologically diagnosed Neurofibroma at the University of Benin Teaching Hospital over a 10year period. Methodology: A 10 year histologically confirmed cases of Neurofibroma from 1 st of January, 2004 to 31 st December, 2013 were the subjects of interest. The stained Haematoxylin and eosin slides of each subject were retrieved and examined. The data obtained was analysed using the Statistical Package for Social Sciences, version 16. Results: There were 46 cases of neurofibroma. The male to female ratio was 1.5:1. The mean age was observed in the 3 rd decade while the peak age was in the 4 th decade. The mean ages for neurofibroma in males and females were in the 3 rd decades. The head and neck was the most common site in the cases with specified anatomic sites. Conclusion: Neurofibromas are common cutaneous benign tumour with a predilection for males and a peak in the 3 rd decade. Keywords Cutaneous Neurofibroma, potential health burden, histopathology data pool, most common benign cutaneous tumour. I. INTRODUCTION Cutaneous neural tumours represent a small but important part of the cutaneous soft tissue neoplasms. 1 The benign tumours typically fall into the groups of neurofibroma (NF) and neurilemoma (schwannoma). 2 The former are common cutaneous tumours, 3 while the latter are usually found in the deep soft tissue and viscera. 4 Neurofibroma are benign neural tumours 5, 6 derived from schwann cells of peripheral nerves or neurocutaneous end organs. 5 Cosmetic concerns are considered a major morbidity, 7 however malignant transformation can arise on a background of Neurofibromas. 4, 5, 7-9 These could pose a health burden on both human and capital resources. In the light of this, the aim of this study is to determine the frequency, age and sex distribution of histologically diagnosed Neurofibroma at the University of Benin Teaching Hospital (UBTH) over a 10year period. This will make available the histopathology data pool of cutaneous NFs in our environment over the period of study under review. This is important because histopathology data pool has been tagged to be vital in epidemiological analysis, 10 more so that previous studies from Nigeria looked at the subject matter in combination with the clinical perspective, as a component of Neurofibromatosis. II. METHODOLOGY A 10 year histologically confirmed cases of Neurofibroma between January 2004 and December 2013 in the Department of Morbid Anatomy, University of Benin Teaching Hospital were the subjects of interest. The histopathology reference number, biodata and clinical diagnosis of each subject were obtained from the departmental records. The corresponding Haematoxylin and eosin stained slides of each subjects were retrieved, examined and the diagnosis was recorded against the corresponding patient’s name on a data spread sheet. The data obtained from this study was analysed using the SPSS statistical package (V.16.0) Ethical clearance was obtained from the University of Benin Teaching Hospital Ethical Review Committee. III. RESULTS One hundred eighty eight (188) benign cutaneous tumours were encountered retrospectively over the 10 year study period. Their mean age was 31.70 ± 18.20 years. They occurred about the same mean age in both sexes with a wide age range that spanned from the 1 st to the 9 th decade, Table 1. Forty six cases were NF, which accounts for 24 % of benign cutaneous tumours. Twenty eight (28) cases occurred in males while 18 cases occurred in females giving a male to female ratio of 1.5:1. The mean age was 28.00 years (SD = 13.71) with an age range of 4–65 years and a peak in the 4 th