Dermatological malignancies at a University Teaching Hospital in northwestern Tanzania a retrospective review of 154 cases

Phillipo L Chalya

Dermatological malignancies at a University Teaching Hospital in northwestern Tanzania a retrospective review of 154 cases - Mwanza, Tanzania: Tanzania Journal of Health Research & Catholic University of Health and Allied Sciences [CUHAS – Bugando] 2012/1/1 - Tanzania Journal of Health Research Volume 14 Issue 1 .

Abstract

Dermatological 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 SPSS system. A total of 154(12.8%) patients with a histopathological diagnosis of dermatological malignancy were studied. Generally, males outnumbered females by a ratio of 1.4:1. 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 degree of suspecious is needed to avoid lebeling "malignancy" as "chronic ulcers".

eISSN: 1821-9241 print ISSN: 1821-6404 = Dermatological malignancies, prevalence, histopathological pattern, anatomical distribution, treatment outcome, Tanzania

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