Dermatologic neoplasms: a perspective from Makurdi, North Central Nigeria

Abstract

<p class="abstract"><strong>Background:</strong> Skin cancers are the commonest malignancies in Caucasians but are relatively less common in dark skinned persons. They are strongly linked to ultraviolet exposure, skin melanin content, and immune status.</p><p class="abstract"><strong>Methods:</strong> This study reviewed all histologically diagnosed skin neoplasms at the Federal Medical Centre, Makurdi from January 2012 to December 2016.<strong></strong></p><p class="abstract"><strong>Results:</strong> A total of 84 neoplasms were seen, with 42 (50%) being malignant. Of the malignant lesions, Squamous cell carcinomas were the most frequent (45.2%), followed by melanomas (23.8%). The lower limb was the most frequent site of both benign and malignant neoplasms, while a male to female ratio of 0.88:1 was observed.</p><p><strong>Conclusions:</strong> A relatively high UV radiation intensity, combined with a predominance of outdoor agricultural based activities, alongside chronic ulcerative/inflammatory lesions and a high HIV burden all indicate a need for widespread enlightenment and screening campaigns to prevent occurrence of skin cancers and aid early diagnosis.</p>

Cutaneous cancers in the Africans: Systematic review

“…Tables 1 and 2 show documentation of skin cancers in 22 African countries published over a 50‐year period 15–58 . Some countries not included in the table did not have records; while some registries did not document skin cancers in their registries or did not specify on the skin cancer types in their reports 59,60 .…”

“…Squamous cell carcinoma (SCC) was the most documented skin cancer reported in many African countries, particularly where the predominant skin color is black. The frequency of SCC in reported cases ranges from 36.4% to 86% 15–21,24,29,30,32,33,35,36,38,41,42,47–49,53–57 . Bari in Sierra Leone documented only three cases of skin cancers and all were SCC 52 …”

“…Skin cancers occur most commonly in males (Tables 1 and 2) except in studies done by Ajetumobi and Ayanlowo in Nigeria, Saka in Togo, and Martin from Lesotho, where a female preponderance was documented 17,34,49,53 …”

“…The frequency of SCC in reported cases ranges from 36.4% to 86%. [15][16][17][18][19][20][21]24,29,30,32,33,35,36,38,41,42,[47][48][49][53][54][55][56][57] Bari in Sierra Leone documented only three cases of skin cancers and all were SCC. 52 In countries such as Tunisia, Libya, Eqypt, and Morocco where the predominant skin color is white, basal cell carcinoma (BCC)…”

“…34,40,51 Cancer registries in some East African countries such as Uganda and Zimbabwe reported a very high prevalence of Kaposi Sarcoma, much higher than NMSCs. 31,65 Dermatofibrosarcoma protuberans (DFSP), a rare dermal skin malignancy was documented in case series from Nigeria [15][16][17]27,49,57 in 1.0%-9.5% of patients, Ethiopia 1%, Senegal 1.5%, Tunisia 2%, Burkina Faso 2.8%, Kenya 3.0%, and Lesotho 4.1%. 37,40,41,47,48,53 Skin cancers occur most commonly in males (Tables 1 and 2)…”