The histopathological pattern of cutaneous vascular tumours; an institution based study

Abstract

Background: The skin is a typical site for vascular tumours. Researches on primary cutaneous vascular tumours as a sub group of cutaneous soft tissue tumours are virtually non-existence in our environment in particular and Nigeria in general. The aim of this study is to elucidate the histopathological types of primary cutaneous vascular tumours as well as their age and sex distribution at the University of Benin Teaching Hospital.

Methods: It was a 10 year retrospective study that covered the period from 1st of January 2004 to 31st of December 2013. The archived records of the Department of Morbid Anatomy were consulted for all cases of histologically diagnosed cutaneous vascular tumours. The data generated was analysed using Statistical Package for Social Sciences, version 16.

Result: One hundred four cases (104) of cutaneous vascular tumours were encountered during the period of study under review. The mean age of cases with cutaneous vascular tumours was in the 4th decade while a slight female predilection was observed. Kaposi's sarcoma accounted for 73.08% of cases while the haemangiomas and angiosarcomas accounted for 25% and 1.92% of cutaneous vascular tumours respectively. Sexual predilection was slightly in favour of the females with Kaposi's sarcomas and haemangiomas. The mean ages for haemangioma, Kaposi's sarcoma and angiosarcoma were in the 3rd, 4th and 7th decades respectively.

Conclusion: Kaposi sarcoma was the most common cutaneous vascular tumour followed by haemangioma, while the least is the rare angiosarcoma. Cases with haemangiomas have the least mean age.

Keywords: Kaposi sarcoma, cutaneous vascular tumours