Squamous cell carcinoma and Bowen's disease of the skin in Singapore

<p><b>INTRODUCTION</b>Non-melanoma skin cancer is one of the commonest cancers in Singapore and worldwide. The aim of our study was to evaluate the demographic and clinicopathological patterns of squamous cell carcinoma (SCC) and Bowen's disease (BD) of the skin, in order to better understand the characteristics of these tumours in our population.</p><p><b>MATERIALS AND METHODS</b>Histologically proven cases of SCC and BD seen at our centre between 2002 and 2003 were retrospectively analysed according to age, sex, race, predisposing factors such as immunosuppression and ultraviolet therapy, site and size of tumour, histological differentiation and subtype, and treatment method.</p><p><b>RESULTS</b>A total of 161 patients were studied--81 with SCC, 68 with BD, and 12 with both tumours. There were 199 tumours in total--105 SCC and 94 BD. For both SCC and BD, males outnumbered females (ratio of 2.4:1 and 1.5:1 respectively); patient age averaged 72.9 years and 66.8 years respectively; and Chinese were the majority race. The mean duration to presentation was 21.2 months for SCC compared with 39.9 months for BD, and common symptoms were itch, pain and bleeding for both. The mean tumour size was 19.0 mm and 18.5 mm, and the commonest site was the head and neck for both.</p><p><b>CONCLUSIONS</b>SCC and BD show rather similar patient characteristics, with a predominance among males, having a predilection for the head and neck region, and with a tendency towards slow growth. As incidences increase worldwide, it is important for healthcare providers to be adept at recognising and managing nonmelanoma skin cancers.</p>

Treatment of periamullary diverticula complicated with biliopancreatic disease / 中国普通外科杂志

Objective To evaluate the curative methods of periampullary diverticula(PAD) complicated with biliopancreatic disease.Methods The clinical data of 32 cases of PAD complicated with biliopancreatic disease treated by surgical or endoscopic measures were retrospectively analyzed.Results Of the 32 cases,16 cases were treated with gastroectomy and Roux-en-Y gastrojejunostomy,and 8 with gastroectomy and Billroth Ⅱ gastrojejunostomy,8 with endoscopic sphincterotomy (EST).Postoperative complication occured in 4 cases,but no operative death.Twenty-seven cases were followed up for 5 months-8 years, and the results were excellent in 20 cases, good in 7 cases.Conclusions Gastroectomy and Roux-en-Y gastrojejunostomy is a better surgical method for PAD complicated with biliopancreatic disease.EST has become a new effective measure to deal with the diseases;It will be safe to use the first method for patients with intradiverticular papilla if it treated by EST.