Variation in Skin Cancer Pattern in the Southwestern Region of Pakistan
Hina Manzoor, Najeeb Ahmad, Zafar H Tanveer, Khush Naseed Ahmed, Munir Ahmed, Muhammad Sadiq, Feroz Khan, Jamila Shuja
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ABSTRACT
Background: Skin cancer is a broad term that refers to a
variety of different types of cancer. It is usually recognized as non-melanoma and
melanoma skin cancer. In many parts of the world, the prevalence is high, with
significant ecological and ethical variation.
Objectives: Objective was to determine demographic and
histological features of skin cancer in Southwest region of Pakistan. Methodology: This retrospective study was
carried out on skin cancer 1169 cases of Centre for Nuclear Medicine and
Radiotherapy (CENAR) in Quetta. The data from January 2000 to December 2009 (10Years)
was retrieved from record. The aim was to determine the importance of skin
cancer in this area, its gender wise distribution and its pathological types.
Results: Record of total 9308 cancer patients was
retrieved from patients presenting to CENAR Quetta. From 9308 case, 1169(12.5%)
patients were of skin cancer which was second most prevalent category of cancer
in this area. Prevalence was higher in males with 713(61%) cases as compared to
females. Pathologically with 634(54%) cases, the most prevalent category was
Squamous cell carcinoma (SCC).
Conclusion: Skin cancer is wide-spread type of cancer in
patients of south-west region of Pakistan. The findings of this study are not
aligned with published data. The difference is because of high altitude of the
study area, dry climate and long skin exposure particularly in low socio-economic
field workers.
Keywords: Skin cancer, gender, Melanoma skin cancer
(MSC), Squamous cell carcinoma (SCC), Non-melanoma skin cancer (NMSC), Basal
cell carcinoma (BCC),