Research from M.E. Asuquo and colleagues has provided new data on skin cancer
2009 JUL 13 - (NewsRx.com) -- "Albinism is an established risk factor for skin cancer in black Africans, and high levels of ultraviolet radiation increase the risk of the three major forms of skin cancer. We present four albinos with histologic diagnoses of skin cancer who were seen at the University of Calabar Teaching Hospital, Calabar, Nigeria from January 2005 to December 2006," scientists in Calabar, Nigeria report. "Skin cancer in these cases was compared with the total skin cancer affecting 29 patients during the study period. Twenty-nine patients presented with skin cancer during the study period. Four Nigerian albinos ( two men and two women) with skin cancer accounted for 13.8% of the skin cancers observed during the 2-year period. They ranged in age from 22 to 40 years ( mean, 27.8 years). The sites of the lesions included the head [ squamous cell carcinoma (SCC) in two patients and basal cell carcinoma (BCC) in one patient] and the upper limb ( melanoma). All tumors were excised; in addition, patients with SCC and melanoma received adjuvant chemotherapy. Two patients, one woman with SCC and the patient with melanoma, showed residual tumor because of inadequate excision. During the evaluation period between 14 and 18 months, the sites appeared to be healed with no evidence of recurrence in the male with SCC and female with BCC. Albinism and solar radiation are risk factors for skin cancer," wrote M.E. Asuquo and colleagues. The researchers concluded: "Early implementation of public education strategies on prevention should improve outcome.." Asuquo and colleagues published their study in International Journal of Dermatology (Skin cancers amongst four Nigerian albinos. International Journal of Dermatology, 2009;48(6):636-638). For more information, contact M.E. Asuquo, GPO Box 1891, Calabar, NigerIA. Publisher contact information for the International Journal of Dermatology is: Wiley-Blackwell Publishing, Inc., Commerce Place, 350 Main St., Malden 02148, MA, USA. Keywords: Nigeria, Calabar, Albinism, Dermatology, Oncology, Skin Cancer, Skin Neoplasms. This article was prepared by Clinical Oncology Week editors from staff and other reports. Copyright 2009, Clinical Oncology Week via NewsRx.com.
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