title: Dermatopathology practice in ethiopia.
abstract: BACKGROUND
  Dermatologic diseases are extremely common among the Ethiopian population and are a significant cause of morbidity. However, few studies exist in the literature that describe the incidence and clinical and histologic features of biopsied cutaneous lesions.
  
  
  OBJECTIVE
  To categorize the cutaneous diseases observed in skin biopsies at the All African Leprosy Rehabilitation and Training Center (ALERT) in Addis Ababa, Ethiopia, and to describe the clinical and histologic features of dermatopathologic diagnoses most frequently encountered in this practice setting.
  
  
  METHODS
  Pathology reports of 2342 cutaneous specimens received at ALERT in Addis Ababa, Ethiopia, were reviewed to determine the range and frequency of cutaneous diseases and dermatoses diagnosed from January 2007 through December 2010.
  
  
  CONCLUSIONS
  The range of cutaneous diseases observed in skin biopsies at ALERT was varied and included inflammatory dermatoses (27%), infectious diseases (24%), and malignant and benign cutaneous neoplasms (22% and 20%, respectively). The most common conditions observed in this study were squamous cell carcinoma (8% of total cases), eczema (6% of total cases), leishmaniasis (6% of total cases), tuberculosis (6% of total cases), and benign nevi (4% of total cases).
authors.affiliation: Dermatopathology Unit, Pathology Service, Massachusetts General Hospital, Boston, MA 02114, USA. devon.gimbel@gmail.com
authors.forename: Devon C
authors.initials: DC
authors.lastname: Gimbel
authors.forename: Teklu Bekele
authors.initials: TB
authors.lastname: Legesse
mesh_terms: D001706:Biopsy; D003880:Dermatology / Q000379:methods*; D003906:Developing Countries; D005002:Ethiopia / Q000453:epidemiology; D006297:Health Services Accessibility; D006801:Humans; D010336:Pathology / Q000379:methods*; D011364:Professional Practice; D012871:Skin Diseases / Q000175:diagnosis* / Q000453:epidemiology