Profile of skin biopsies and patterns of skin cancer in a tertiary care center of Western Nepal.
BACKGROUND
Skin biopsy is the method to assist clinicians to make definite dermatological diagnosis which further helps in holistic management. Skin cancers are relatively rare clinical diagnosis in developing countries like Nepal, but the prevalence is on rise.


OBJECTIVE
To investigate the profile of skin biopsies and frequencies and pattern of skin cancers in a tertiary care centre of Western Nepal.


METHODS
The materials consisted of 434 biopsies (1.37%) out of 31,450 OPD visits performed in the Department of Dermatology, Manipal Teaching Hospital, Pokhara, Nepal, during the period of Dec 2011-Nov 2014. Data were collected and analyzed using SPSS-16 with reference to incidence, age, sex, race and clinical and histopathological features.


RESULTS
The commonest disorders observed in biopsies were papulosquamous lesions, skin tuberculosis of different types, benign skin tumors, leprosy, collagen and fungal diseases. Viral diseases were rarely seen, probably due to straight forward clinical diagnosis. Dermatological malignancies accounted for 55/434 (12.67%) of biopsies. Skin disorders in general were commoner in females 280/434 (64%), including malignancies 32/55(58.2%). Mean age of patients with skin cancer was 54.5 years. Facilities for proper laboratory investigation of dermatological disorders will improve the quality of life.


CONCLUSIONS
The most prevalent lesion in skin biopsies was papulosquamous disorders followed by skin tuberculosis of different types. Dermatological malignancy constituted 55/434 (12.67%) cases. The prevalence of skin malignancy is on rise in Nepalese society probably due to increase in life expectancy and better diagnostic services.
Department of Dermatology, Manipal College of Medical Sciences, Pokhara, Nepal E-mail : drajayk2002@yahoo.com.
Ajay
A
Kumar
Prashanna Raj
PR
Shrestha
Jenny
J
Pun
Pratichya
P
Thapa
Merina
M
Manandhar
Brijesh
B
Sathian
D000328:Adult; D000368:Aged; D000369:Aged, 80 and over; D001706:Biopsy; D002280:Basal Cell Carcinoma / Q000453:epidemiology* / Q000473:pathology; D002294:Carcinoma, Squamous Cell / Q000453:epidemiology* / Q000473:pathology; D015331:Cohort Studies; D003430:Cross-Sectional Studies; D003881:Dermatomycoses / Q000453:epidemiology / Q000473:pathology; D005260:Female; D006801:Humans; D015994:Incidence; D007918:Leprosy / Q000453:epidemiology / Q000473:pathology; D008297:Male; D008545:Melanoma / Q000453:epidemiology* / Q000473:pathology; D008875:Middle Aged; D009390:Nepal / Q000453:epidemiology; D015995:Prevalence; D012867:Skin / Q000473:pathology*; D017444:Skin Diseases, Papulosquamous / Q000453:epidemiology* / Q000473:pathology; D012878:Skin Neoplasms / Q000453:epidemiology* / Q000473:pathology; D062606:Tertiary Care Centers; D014382:Tuberculosis, Cutaneous / Q000453:epidemiology* / Q000473:pathology; D014657:Vasculitis / Q000453:epidemiology / Q000473:pathology