title: Dermatological malignancies at a University Teaching Hospital in north-western Tanzania: a retrospective review of 154 cases.
abstract: Dermatological malignancies are among the most common form of cancers and the global incidence has been increasing at an alarming rate. A retrospective study was conducted to determine the prevalence, histopathological pattern, anatomical distribution and treatment outcome of dermatological malignancies at Bugando Medical Centre in North-western Tanzania. Data were collected from patients' files kept in the Medical record department; the surgical wards, operating theatre and histopathology laboratory and analyzed using Statistical package for social sciences system. A total of 154 patients with a histopathological diagnosis of dermatological malignancy were studied. Generally, males outnumbered females by a ratio of 1.4:1. The majority of patients were in the 5th and 6th decades of life. Malignant melanoma was the most common dermatological malignancy (67.5%) followed by Kaposi's sarcoma (10.4%), Squamous cell carcinoma (8.4%) and Basal cell carcinoma (7.8%). The lower limbs were the most frequent site accounting for 55.8%. Wide local excision was the most common surgical procedure performed in 79.2% of cases. Post-operative wound infection was the most common complication in 58.3% of patients. Mortality rate was 3.8%. Dermatological malignancies are more prevalent in our setting. A high index of suspicion is needed to avoid labelling malignancies "chronic ulcers" and all suspected lesions should be biopsed.
authors.affiliation: Department of Surgery, Catholic University of Health and Allied Sciences-Bugando, Mwanza, Tanzania. drphillipoleo@yahoo.com
authors.forename: Phillipo L
authors.initials: PL
authors.lastname: Chalya
authors.forename: Japhet M
authors.initials: JM
authors.lastname: Gilyoma
authors.forename: Emmanuel S
authors.initials: ES
authors.lastname: Kanumba
authors.forename: Brian
authors.initials: B
authors.lastname: Mawala
authors.forename: Nestory
authors.initials: N
authors.lastname: Masalu
authors.forename: Kahima J
authors.initials: KJ
authors.lastname: Kahima
authors.forename: Peter
authors.initials: P
authors.lastname: Rambau
mesh_terms: D000368:Aged; D005260:Female; D006784:Hospitals, Teaching; D006785:Hospitals, University; D006801:Humans; D015994:Incidence; D008297:Male; D008875:Middle Aged; D012189:Retrospective Studies; D012878:Skin Neoplasms / Q000453:epidemiology* / Q000628:therapy; D013636:Tanzania / Q000453:epidemiology