A T Atanda1, A B Umar. 1. Department of Pathology, Aminu Kano Teaching Hospital, Kano, Nigeria.PMB 3452, Kano.
Abstract
BACKGROUND: Melanoma known to be common among Caucasians is increasingly getting more common among blacks in the tropics. OBJECTIVE: To characterize the clinical and histological features of these tumours in adult Nigerians. METHODS: All cases of melanoma diagnosed between 2006 and 2010 in Aminu Kano Teaching Hospital, Kano, Nigeria were retrieved and their clinical and pathological features reviewed. RESULTS: Eighty five cases comprising 41 males and 44 females were diagnosed with mean age of 56 ± 14.6 years. Mean duration before presentation was 2.3 ± 0.8 years. Eighty five percent of cases were located in the foot, 8% with lymph node involvement and seventy eight of the 85 cases were of Breslow thickness > 4 mm. Fifty five cases were of Clark level V and 78% of Nodular variant. Prognostic features including ulceration, lymphocytic infiltration, significant mitotic activity, satellitosis and lymphovascular infiltration were present in 69%, 38%, 16%, 45% and 17% of cases respectively. Only three cases were amelanotic. CONCLUSION: Melanoma in the Nigerians is predominantly of the nodular variant and located in the foot, is characterized by late presentation and is generally associated with adverse prognostic features.
BACKGROUND:Melanoma known to be common among Caucasians is increasingly getting more common among blacks in the tropics. OBJECTIVE: To characterize the clinical and histological features of these tumours in adult Nigerians. METHODS: All cases of melanoma diagnosed between 2006 and 2010 in Aminu Kano Teaching Hospital, Kano, Nigeria were retrieved and their clinical and pathological features reviewed. RESULTS: Eighty five cases comprising 41 males and 44 females were diagnosed with mean age of 56 ± 14.6 years. Mean duration before presentation was 2.3 ± 0.8 years. Eighty five percent of cases were located in the foot, 8% with lymph node involvement and seventy eight of the 85 cases were of Breslow thickness > 4 mm. Fifty five cases were of Clark level V and 78% of Nodular variant. Prognostic features including ulceration, lymphocytic infiltration, significant mitotic activity, satellitosis and lymphovascular infiltration were present in 69%, 38%, 16%, 45% and 17% of cases respectively. Only three cases were amelanotic. CONCLUSION:Melanoma in the Nigerians is predominantly of the nodular variant and located in the foot, is characterized by late presentation and is generally associated with adverse prognostic features.