Dermatoglyphic Pattern Differences in Females with Reproductive System Cancers and It’s Scope in Preventive Care

Abstract

Introduction: Female reproductive system cancers shorten lifespan in women because of high mortality and morbidity. The detection of pre-invasive and micro-invasive stages makes near 100% survival of cancer patients. Dermatoglyphics is the scientific study of fingerprints. Many genes which take part in the control of finger and palm dermatoglyphic development distinguished cancer patients from the general population. It is possible that these genes also predispose to the development of malignancy. Since many investigations are needed to confirm the diagnosis of cancers, dermatoglyphics can be used as a screening procedure for planning preventive care if a specific pattern is known for a cancer. Aims and Objectives: To analyze the prints of different cancers, to analyze the results, compare with controls and observe the differences in main parameters of dermatoglyphic patterns and to determine a specific pattern for specific cancers. Subjects and Methods: This is a prospective, observational and an analytical study started after the approval by Institutional Ethical Committee of S.V. Medical College, Tirupati. The material for the study consisted of finger and palm prints of outpatients and inpatients of the Department of OBG, Tirupati, Cancer Hospital in and around Tirupati, Nellore and Kadapa. The ink prints of each finger and palm were collected and analyzed. Results: Ridge counts, digital patterns and main line formulae observed in different cancers in the present study were analyzed and presented. Mean TFRC was higher in normal group. Greater AFRC was observed in cancer cervix patients when compared to controls. In the present study, there is no difference (p> 0.05) in a-b ridge count among carcinoma of cervix and control group in both hands. Differences of mean atd, tad and tda angles among the groups are not statistically significant (P>0.05).The most common Cmain line termination pattern of cancers are U followed by R and then Ab. IV interdigital area of both hands presented less incidence of loop pattern in cancer cases when compared to normal group. Special findings in respective cancers are discussed separately and they are not found in any other literature. Conclusion: There are very limited studies in literature on dermatoglyphic pattern in female reproductive cancers. Though the cost of prints is less, more time and skilled human resources are required for their analysis. Study sample size of controls and cases to be increased. Public should be enlightened about dermatoglyphics. If large number of studies are done and a specific pattern is established for specific cancers, then it becomes cost-effective to people so that a risk is predicted beforehand in any disease and preventive methods can be employed at an early age as the dermatoglyphic patterns do not change in a life time.