Pattern of skin cancer among Saudi Patients who attended King AbdulAziz University Hospital between Jan 2000 and Dec 2010

Objective

This study was performed to determine the pattern of skin cancer among Saudis attending King AbdulAziz University Hospital, Jeddah.

Materials and methods

Histologically diagnosed skin cancers between January 2000 and December 2010 were reviewed and analyzed. Trends in incidence of skin cancers by their age, sex and anatomic location were examined.

Results

Of the 106 cases of skin cancer among Saudis there were 28.3% BCC, 24.5% SCC, 18% mycosis fungoidis (MF), 10.3% malignant melanoma (MM), 5.7% dermatofibrosarcoma protuberance (DFSP), 2.8% basosquamous cell carcinoma (BSCC), 1.9% Kaposi sarcoma (KS). The mean age was 46.6 years and the male to female ratio was 2.1:1. In the descending order of frequency the anatomic locations were head and neck, lower limbs, chest and abdomen, upper limbs and genitals.

Conclusion

Most common skin cancers seen are BCC and SCC followed by MF and MM. The study revealed a low frequency and stable trend in BCC and SCC which is similar to studies from other parts of Saudi Arabia. Site of distribution of BCC and SCC is similar to Caucasians. MF is showing a trend towards increased frequency at our institution. MM showed a dominant acral distribution different from the West.