Dermatological Malignancies at a University Teaching Hospital in North-Western Tanzania: A Retrospective Review of 154 Cases

ABSTRACT

"AbstractDermatological malignancies are among the most common form of cancers and the global incidence has been increasing at an alarming rate. A retrospective study was conducted to determine the prevalence; histopathological pattern; anatomical distribution and treatment outcome of dermatological malignancies at Bugando Medical Centre in North-western Tanzania. Data were collected from patients' files kept in the Medical record department; the surgical wards; operating theatre and histopathology laboratory and analyzed using Statistical package for social sciences system. A total of 154 patients with a histopathological diagnosis of dermatological malignancy were studied. Generally; males outnumbered females by a ratio of 1.41. The majority of patients were in the 5th and 6th decades of life. Malignant melanoma was the most common dermatological malignancy (67.5) followed by Kaposi's sarcoma (10.4); Squamous cell carcinoma (8.4) and Basal cell carcinoma(7.8). The lower limbs were the most frequent site accounting for 55.8. Wide local excision was the most common surgical procedure performed in 79.2 of cases. Post-operative wound infection was the most common complication in 58.3 of patients. Mortality rate was 3.8. Dermatological malignancies are more prevalent in our setting. A high index of suspicion is needed to avoid labelling malignancies ""chronic ulcers"" and all suspected lesions should be biopsed."