A histopathological analysis of cutaneous malignancies in a tropical African population

Aim: To establish the prevalence of cutaneous malignancies in Zaria, Northern Nigeria. Method: This is a histopathological analysis of three hundred and eighty two cases of cutaneous malignancies seen and diagnosed in the department of Pathology, Ahmadu Bello University Teaching Hospital, Zaria from January 1991 to December 2000. The specimens were fixed in formalin, processed in paraffin wax and stained with haematoxylin and eosin. The slides were studied and the lesions were characterized. Results: Three hundred and eighty two cutaneous malignancies were analysed. The M: F ratio of all the tumours was 1.9:1.0. Nonmelanoma skin tumours were the commonest and accounted for 254 (66.8%). They comprised of squamous cell carcinoma 239 (62.9%), basal cell carcinoma 15 (3.9%) and malignant adnexal tumours which were the least common accounting for 2 (0.5%). Sarcomas accounted for 72(18.9%) and kaposi sarcoma 41(10.7%), was the commonest in this group. Malignant melanoma cases were 54 (14.1%). There were two peak age distributions in the 4th and 6th decades (63.6%) for all tumours. The lower limb was the prevalent site of distribution of all the tumours with sixty five percent cases. Conclusion: Cutaneous malignancies are common in our setting and the commonest was squamous cell carcinoma. Prompt and adequate treatment of chronic leg ulcers and burns injury as well as control of HIV infection should help to reduce the burden of these cancers. Keywords: cutaneous malignancy squamous cell carcinoma sarcomas Nigerian Journal of Surgical Research Vol. 7(3&4) 2005: 300-30