Cutaneous malignancies presenting in a private plastic surgery setup

Abstract

Objectives To know the frequency of cutaneous malignancies presenting in a private setup. Patients and methods The study was conducted in a private plastic surgery setup from 2006 to 2010 including all the patients presenting in the clinic with cutaneous malignancies. The history included the age, onset, duration and evolution of the lesion. The history of sunlight exposure and occupation was also noted. The diagnosis was confirmed by excision/wedge biopsies in all the cases. All the patients were managed according to the standard oncological principles. Results A total of 122 patients were included in the study. Majority of the patients were males (64.8%) with male to female ratio of 1.8:1. The mean age in male patients was 61.6 years as compared to 41.8 years in female patients. Majority of the male patients were farmers (48.1%). Only 6.3% of the males were office workers. Face (66.4%) was the most commonly affected area followed by leg. BCC was the commonest malignancy disclosed followed by SCC. The lesion underwent surgical procedures after excision including skin grafting, vacuum-assisted closure therapy and skin grafting, local and distant flap coverage depending on the situation. Conclusion The prime aim remains the early detection and diagnosis and prompt treatment to lessen the morbidity and mortality associated with these malignancies.