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Oct 30, 2006Article Details
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Pattern of cutaneous malignant melanoma in Zaria, Nigeria
Abstract
Background: Twenty percent of the world's melanoma is seen in Black Africans and Asians. Melanoma in Nigerians would appear to be arising from existing epidermal melanocytes and not from preexisting naevus cells.
Methods: All diagnosed cases of cutaneous malignant melanoma in the Department of Pathology Ahmadu Bello University Teaching Hospital, Zaria, Nigeria over a ten-year study period (1991-2000) were reviewed. The age, sex and anatomical site of the lesion were obtained from the request forms. The histopathological patterns of distribution, presence of dark brown melanin pigments, nucleolar appearance and Clark's histological grading were studied. The data was analysed and tabulated into frequency tables.
Results: Fifty four cases of cutaneous malignant melanoma were reviewed. The over all male: female sex ratio was 1.3:1.0 with a wide age distribution from the second to seventh decades and two peaks in fifth and sixth decades. The foot and lower limbs were the most common sites. Seventy two percent of the cases were of high histological grade (Clark's level III and IV); thirty-six cases were distributed predominantly in sheets while 50 cases had dark brown melanin pigments. All showed characteristic prominent eosinophilic nucleolus.
Conclusion: Malignant melanoma is a common skin tumour in Zaria. It is commonest in the fifth and sixth decades. The feet and lower limbs are predominantly affected.
Keywords: malignant melanoma, cutaneous, pattern
Annals of African Medicine Vol. 5 (1) 2006: 16–19
Methods: All diagnosed cases of cutaneous malignant melanoma in the Department of Pathology Ahmadu Bello University Teaching Hospital, Zaria, Nigeria over a ten-year study period (1991-2000) were reviewed. The age, sex and anatomical site of the lesion were obtained from the request forms. The histopathological patterns of distribution, presence of dark brown melanin pigments, nucleolar appearance and Clark's histological grading were studied. The data was analysed and tabulated into frequency tables.
Results: Fifty four cases of cutaneous malignant melanoma were reviewed. The over all male: female sex ratio was 1.3:1.0 with a wide age distribution from the second to seventh decades and two peaks in fifth and sixth decades. The foot and lower limbs were the most common sites. Seventy two percent of the cases were of high histological grade (Clark's level III and IV); thirty-six cases were distributed predominantly in sheets while 50 cases had dark brown melanin pigments. All showed characteristic prominent eosinophilic nucleolus.
Conclusion: Malignant melanoma is a common skin tumour in Zaria. It is commonest in the fifth and sixth decades. The feet and lower limbs are predominantly affected.
Keywords: malignant melanoma, cutaneous, pattern
Annals of African Medicine Vol. 5 (1) 2006: 16–19
