Geographic oncology has taken immense strides in recent times.1 The current trends are typified by a successful symposium2 on alimentary tract cancers in Africans. Although Nigerian data were included, these pertained to the Yorubas, who live in the western region. Accordingly, the eastern Igbos3 are considered here.
From February 1970 through August 1974, approximately 5,000 surgical specimens were submitted to me by numerous physicians working among the Igbos. Adequate clinical summaries were the only condition required for the free histologic service rendered. Varieties of tissues were received, the general run of them being revealed by the following examples: appendix, 460; cervical lymph node, 134; prostate, 123; thyroid, 104; alimentary tract (esophagus to rectum), 95; liver, 91; salpinx, 64; testis, 57; enucleated eye, 34; kidney, 22; larynx, 20; and lung, 16.
Doll4 stated that pathologic series provide useful information about the distribution of cancer in rural Africa.