FREQUENCY AND HISTOLOGICAL PATTERN OF MALIGNANT SKIN LESIONS IN PAKISTANI POPULATION

Abstract

Objective: To see the frequency and histological pattern of malignant skin lesions on histopathological examination. Study Design: Prospective descriptive study. Place and Duration of Study: Histopathology Department, Army Medical College Rawalpindi, from 1st Nov 2016 to 31st Oct 2018. Material and Methods: Malignant skin lesions diagnosed on the skin biopsies received in histopathology department of Army Medical College, were analyzed to see the frequency and histological pattern of malignant skin lesions. All malignant skin lesions diagnosed on histopathological examination of skin biopsies received were included in the study. Skin biopsies having inadequate material, benign skin lesions or showing equivocal diagnosis of malignancy were excluded from the study. Data was entered and analyzed by using SPSS version 17. Results: A total of 15500 biopsies were dealt with during the study period. Out of these 15500 biopsies, 1450 were malignant lesions. Out of 1450 malignant lesions, 100 were malignant skin lesions accounting 6.89% of all skin malignancies. On histological analysis, out of 100 malignant skin lesions, 45 (45%) were basal cell carcinoma, 25 (20%) were squamous cell carcinoma, 05were malignant melanoma and 03 were Bowen’s disease. Other malignant epithelial lesions included 03 malignant adnexal tumours. Among the non epithelial malignant lesions, 10 were cutaneous lymphomas, 03 were Kaposi sarcoma, 03 were angiosarcomas, 03 metastatic malignancies. Conclusion: The frequency of skin malignancies is relatively less in our population as compared to the western world. In our population, most of the skin malignancies are non melanoma skin cancers............