Background Ovarian cancer is the second most common cause of cancer death among women in Nigeria. This is as a result of the absence of a reliable screening tool and the pervasive poverty in the region. Objectives

The aim is to describe the epidemiologic properties of ovarian cancer in a Tertiary Institution in Jigawa, Nigeria.

Methods A retrospective review of all patients with histologically confirmed ovarian cancer admitted to the gynecological ward of the hospital over a period of 4 years was carried out. Relevant data was retrieved from the ward registers and medical case records. Data was analyzed using Epi info™.

Results A total of 22 patients were admitted during the study period, constituting 1.6% of all gynecological admissions and 30.1% of gynecological malignancies. It was the second most common gynecological malignancy. The mean age of the ovarian cancer patients was 51.1%, with 33.4% being premenopausal with a mean age of 33.6. 54.5% of the patients were of low parity. Abdominal swelling was the most common presenting symptom with 80% of the patients presenting with advanced disease. Serous cystadenocarcinoma was the most common histological variant accounting for 45.4% of cases and a mean age of occurrence of 33.7 years. Granulosa cell tumour was the second most common accounting for 18.1% of cases.

Conclusion There is a rising trend in ovarian cancer cases especially among premenopausal women. Increasing awareness and prompt treatment will reduce mortality from the disease.