Letter: Skin cancer in albinos at the University of Calabar Teaching Hospital, Calabar, Nigeria.

We evaluated all the albinos with a histologic diagnosis of skin cancer seen in the University of Calabar Teaching Hospital, Calabar, Nigeria, during the 7-year period, (January 2001 to December 2007). The ages, sex, clinical presentation/site(s), number of lesions per patient, type of skin cancer, treatment, outcome and follow up were analyzed. This was compared with the total number of skin cancers. Of the skin cancers diagnosed, 11 percent were in patients with albinism.

Cutaneous squamous cell carcinoma in Calabar, southern Nigeria.

BACKGROUND: Several studies have shown that in Africa squamous cell carcinoma (SCC) is commoner than other skin malignancies. The risk factors are grouped generally into solar and nonsolar factors and their contributions vary with race, geographical region and site of lesion. This study attempted to identify risk factors and outcome of management of this problem in our region of southern Nigeria. METHODS: All patients with histological diagnosis of SCC presenting to the University of Calabar Teaching Hospital during the period January 2005 to December 2006 were evaluated. RESULTS: In total, 10 patients (6 male, 4 female, mean age 39.3 years, range 16-62) were seen. There were six patients (60%) with Marjolin's ulcer (MU) of the leg, with a male:female ratio of 5:1 and a latency period of 14.7 years, with trauma as the leading cause of injury. The other four patients (40%) had non-MU SCC. Two of these four patients (one man, one woman) were albino, and had lesions that involved the head. The other two patients were both women, and had vulval lesions. All 10 patients had delayed hospital admission, after poor results with topical herbal treatment. After hospital treatment, the results were satisfactory in three patients (two with MU and the male albino patient). The other seven patients had generally poor results from treatment, which comprised various combinations of excision, adjuvant chemotherapy and radiation. CONCLUSION: Ignorance and sociocultural factors were underlying issues in delaying treatment. Education highlighting the risk associated with chronic wounds and albinism, and the need for prevention, prompt treatment and proper surgical management, would improve prognosis with a reduction in the healthcare cost of this problem.

Salivary gland tumour of the lip: report of two cases and literature review.

BACKGROUND: Salivary gland tumours (SGT'S) are uncommon. The minor glands are dispersed throughout the upper aerodigestive submucosa including the lip. OBJECTIVE: To present two case reports of salivary gland tumour of the upper lip and highlight its diagnostic and therapeutic challenges. CASE REPORTS: A 50-year-old female farmer presented with a two year history of swelling of the upper lip and the histology revealed a pleomorphic adenoma of the minor salivary gland. She was offered a wide excision which resulted in a huge upper lip defect managed by a two staged lip switch ABBE flap. The second patient, a 40-year-old female teacher presented with a 10 year history of a left sided upper lip swelling. Histology revealed pleomorphic adenoma. She was offered an excision with no evidence of recurrence after 26 months of follow up. CONCLUSION: Salivary gland tumours should be considered as a differential diagnosis of tumours of the lip: Early presentation is advocated as late presentation with advanced tumour presents diagnostic and therapeutic challenges.