Asuquo Maurice E, Ngim Ogbu, Ugare Gabriel, Omotoso Joshua, Ebughe Godwin
Department of Surgery, University of Calabar Teaching Hospital, Calabar, Nigeria.
Am J Clin Dermatol. 2008;9(6):383-7. doi: 10.2165/0128071-200809060-00004.
Dermatologic malignancies are among the most common form of cancer. However, dark-skinned individuals of African descent are said to be far less likely than fair-skinned individuals to develop skin cancer. Significant differences in the pattern of skin malignancy have also been observed in different regions of Africa.
The aim of this study was to evaluate the pattern, site incidence, and outcome of treatment of major histologically diagnosed dermatologic malignancies encountered in a teaching hospital surgical department in South Nigeria.
We evaluated patients with histologic diagnoses of major dermatologic malignancies that presented to the University of Calabar Teaching Hospital, Calabar, Nigeria between January 2000 and December 2004 and compared our findings with the total number of patients diagnosed with malignancies at the same hospital over the same period. This hospital is located in South Nigeria.
There were 63 histologically diagnosed dermatologic cancers, comprising 10% of all histologically diagnosed cancers at the University of Calabar Teaching Hospital during the study period. Squamous cell carcinoma (SCC) was the most common (n = 23; 37%), followed by Kaposi sarcoma (KS) [n = 17; 27%]. Other malignancies included basal cell carcinoma (BCC), melanoma, and dermatofibrosarcoma protuberans (DFSP) [n = 5; 8% each]. The peak age varied with the type of cancer but none was found in patients in the first decade of life. The lower limb was the most frequent site of SCC (Marjolin ulcer), KS, and melanoma, while BCC was most common on the head, neck, and upper limb. Excision surgery resulted in healing of all cases of BCC. Some patients with SCC and melanoma presented late for curative surgery. Some African KS tumors were chemosensitive. There was a high recurrence rate for DFSP.
This study revealed a similar pattern of dermatologic malignancies in South Nigeria compared with other parts of Africa but also some regional differences (e.g. in Kano, melanoma ranked second). The pattern was, however, in sharp contrast to that seen with Caucasian populations, in whom 80% of the lesions are BCC and 20% are SCC. Public education, implementation of preventive strategies, and early presentation of disease would improve outcomes of dermatologic malignancies in Nigeria.
皮肤恶性肿瘤是最常见的癌症形式之一。然而，据说非洲裔黑皮肤个体患皮肤癌的可能性远低于白皮肤个体。在非洲不同地区也观察到皮肤恶性肿瘤模式存在显著差异。
本研究旨在评估尼日利亚南部一家教学医院外科遇到的经组织学确诊的主要皮肤恶性肿瘤的模式、发病部位及治疗结果。
我们评估了2000年1月至2004年12月期间在尼日利亚卡拉巴尔大学教学医院就诊的经组织学诊断为主要皮肤恶性肿瘤的患者，并将我们的研究结果与同期在同一家医院诊断为恶性肿瘤的患者总数进行比较。该医院位于尼日利亚南部。
有63例经组织学诊断的皮肤癌，占研究期间卡拉巴尔大学教学医院所有经组织学诊断癌症的10%。鳞状细胞癌（SCC）最为常见（n = 23；37%），其次是卡波西肉瘤（KS）[n = 17；27%]。其他恶性肿瘤包括基底细胞癌（BCC）、黑色素瘤和隆突性皮肤纤维肉瘤（DFSP）[各n = 5；8%]。发病高峰年龄因癌症类型而异，但在10岁前的患者中未发现。下肢是SCC（Marjolin溃疡）、KS和黑色素瘤最常见的发病部位，而BCC在头、颈和上肢最为常见。切除手术使所有BCC病例均愈合。一些SCC和黑色素瘤患者就诊时已错过根治性手术时机。一些非洲KS肿瘤对化疗敏感。DFSP复发率高。
本研究显示，尼日利亚南部皮肤恶性肿瘤的模式与非洲其他地区相似，但也存在一些区域差异（例如在卡诺，黑色素瘤排名第二）。然而，这种模式与白种人群形成鲜明对比，白种人群中80%的病变是BCC，20%是SCC。开展公众教育、实施预防策略以及疾病的早期就诊将改善尼日利亚皮肤恶性肿瘤的治疗结果。
