Patterns in Skin Cancers in Tikur Anbessa Hospital

Abstract

Background: The ratio of skin cancer in dark skinned population is reported to be 10 - 20 times lower than lighter-skinned populations. The aim of this study was to assess the anatomic distribution and patterns of skin cancers such as Squamous cell carcinoma, Basal cell carcinoma, and cutaneous melanoma in Ethiopians in a teaching hospital.

Methods: This retrospective study was performedin 1999-2000 for the years 1985-1998 in Tikur Anbessa teaching hospital. Age, sex, site of occurrences as well as histopathological proofs of squamous cell carcinoma, cutaneous melanoma, and basal cell carcinoma were retrieved from the Department's registration books and request forms. The standard haematoxylin and eosin stains were used for the paraffin embedded biopsies. Data were entered, grouped and analyzed by using EPI info version 6 statistical soft-ware package.

Results: Out of 228 histopathologically proven skin cancers, the mean ages in years were 17.6 (SD=16.7), 52.9(SD=14.0), and 50.6 (SD=17.4) for squamous cell carcinoma, basal cell carcinoma and cutaneous melanoma respectively. As age of patients increased there was slight increase in squamous cell carcinoma and basal cell carcinoma frequencies (P>0.05), however, there was no significant age trend association for cutaneous melanoma (P>0.05). The over all male to female ratio was 1.6:1. Squamous cell carcinoma was the most commonly diagnosed tumour (55.2%) and the lower limbs were the most common sites (53.2%). Cutaneous melanoma was detected in (67.2%). However, Basal cell carcinoma was most frequently observed on the face region, in 39.5%.

Conclusion: This study showed that the patterns of skin cancers in our patients are partly different from those in the western world. With the lower limbs being the most common site of skin cancers, further studies need to be undertaken in order to determine some of the predisposing risk factors in our patients.