Management of Skin Malignancies, points to know and learn

The prognosis of skin cancers in India is worse when compared to the Western countries. It may be because of overall rarity and low experience at individual centers, presentation with advanced disease, inadequate first treatment and a higher incidence of poor prognostic disease subtypes.

To analyze the clinicopathological characteristics, recurrence Management of Skin Malignancies, points to know and learn patterns and the completeness of first treatment in the patients with skin cancers a study was conducted and published in Journal of Postgraduate Medicine, Education and Research.

A retrospective analysis of all patients operated for skin cancers was done. There were 18 cases of skin malignancies of which 44.4% patients had Multiple Myeloma 27.8% had Squamous cell carcinoma, 11.1% had Basal cell carcinoma and dermatofibrosarcoma and 5.6% had Merkel cell carcinoma. Pain was the most common presenting symptom.

The median delay between the primary treatment and definitive surgery was 8 months which led to an increase in surgical morbidity.

Therefore, the authors concluded that skin cancers have poor outcomes in Indian patients when compared to the Western countries. Hence, awareness programs for early diagnosis, a high index of suspicion and early referral to a center experienced in handling these malignancies may help in improving outcomes.

Reference: Abhinav Singh, Siddhant Khare et al Management of Skin Malignancies: Lessons Learnt at a Tertiary Care Center in Northern India; Journal of Postgraduate Medicine, Education and Research, Volume Issue: 56, DOI:10.5005/jp-journals-10028-1567.