FREQUENCY AND CHARACTERISTICS OF SKIN CANCERS DIAGNOSED AT AYUB MEDICAL COLLEGE, ABBOTTABAD PAKISTAN FROM 1995-2003
Abstract
Background: Our histopathology laboratory serves mountainous area of Hazara Division inNorthern Pakistan. This study is an analysis of the records of skin cancers reported over a nineyears period to develop local statistics about frequency and characteristics of skin cancers.Methods: Data from 1995-2003 record of cancers reported by Department of Pathology, AyubMedical College, Abbottabad were analysed to calculate cumulative and year wise frequency ofskin cancers and their major types. Frequency distribution with reference to gender and age wasalso calculated. Results: Skin cancers were 220 (1.04%) out of the total 21075 cancers recordedduring this period. Squamous cell carcinoma was diagnosed in 118 (53.6%), Basal cell carcinomain 88 (40%) and Malignant melanoma in 14 (6.4%) cases. The mean age for all skin cancersconsidered together was 58.75±15.21. Non Melanoma Skin Cancer (NMSC) were seen in all agegroups (minimum 15, maximum 103 years), while no malignant melanoma patient was under 35years of age. Gender difference in distribution was negligible with slight male preponderance(23:21). Malignant melanoma was significantly (p<0.05) more in males (71.4%), whiledistribution of both the types of NMSC was non-significantly in favour of males. We found nosignificant rise or fall in total skin cancers or any type of skin cancer in this 9 years period.Conclusions: At present the frequency of skin cancer is stable at around 1 % of total cancersreported at Ayub Medical College, reflecting a stable very low incidence rate of skin cancer inHazara Division of Pakistan.Keywords: Skin Cancer, Malignant melanoma, Non melanoma Skin Cancer, Pakistan,HistopathologyReferences
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