Pattern of skin malignancies in Manipur, India: a 5-year histopathological review

Dermatological malignancies are relatively uncommon worldwide and are usually not ranked among the top ten common cancers. Various studies indicate a progressive rise in the incidence of skin cancers. This study was performed to determine the pattern of skin malignancies in Manipur, India. This was a retrospective analysis of skin cancers seen in a major referral centre in Manipur. Histologically diagnosed skin cancers seen from August, 2004 to October, 2009 were reviewed and analyzed according to age, gender, site of distribution and histological types. 92 histologically diagnosed skin malignancies were reported during the period under review comprising 2.8% of all histologically diagnosed cancers in RIMS hospital. 47 cases [51.1%] were males and 45 cases [48.9%] females with a male to female ratio of 1:0.96. Age ranged from 17 years to 90 years. Squamous cell carcinoma [SCC] was the most common malignancy consisting of 40 [43.6%] cases followed by basal cell carcinoma [BCC] with 30 [32.6%] cases melanoma with 13 [14.2%] cases. Kaposi's sarcoma, sebaceous carcinoma and dermatofibrosarcoma protuberans constituted about 3.2% with three cases each. The most common skin malignancy was SCC followed by BCC and melanoma. In contrast to the Western countries, melanoma is a rare skin neoplasm in Manipur. For better health planning similar larger studies should be encouraged

Histopathological evaluation of colorectal carcinomas status in Manipur, India

To study the distribution of colorectal carcinomas [CRC] with special emphasis on age, sex, site and histological grading. Retrospective study. Department of Pathology, Regional Institute of Medical Sciences [RIMS], Imphal, Manipur, India, from January 2004 to December 2009. Materials were collected from subjects first diagnosed as colorectal carcinomas in histopathology section and then the medical files were reviewed. Variables like age, sex, religion, relevant past / family history, tumor location, disease stage [Dukes' staging] were assessed. The findings were then analysed. There were 54 patients with colorectal carcinomas during this 6 year period. 29 cases [53.71%] were males while 25 cases [46.29%] were females with a male to female ratio of 1.16:1. The disease was most commonly seen between 60-69 years age group. The rectum was the most common affected site contributing to 53.71% [29 cases] followed by ascending colon with 12 cases [22.22%]. 38.88% of lesions [21 cases] were stage C and above i.e. involvement of local lymph nodes and distant metastasis. When we compared patients above 50 years of age to those under 50 years of age, we found that the disease usually presented with poorer grades of differentiation and more advanced stage in those below 50 years compared to those above 50 years. This study showed that bowel cancers are not rare as previously believed. Routine screening for bowel cancer in all risk patients should be carried out regularly so as to detect cancer early