A Statistical Observation on 1,430 Cases of Cutaneous Malignant Tumors over 20 Years (1987~2006) in Gwangju City and Chonnam Province

Chun, Ji Sun; Yun, Sook Jung; Lee, Jee Bum; Kim, Seong Jin; Won, Young Ho; Lee, Seung Chul

Abstract

BACKGROUND: The incidence of cutaneous malignant tumors has recently markedly increased due to the increased longevity of life, along with the changes of social and environmental factors. However, few articles have reported on these changes, from a statistical aspect, of malignant skin tumors in Gwangju City and Chonnam Province.
OBJECTIVE
Our purpose was to clarify the recent trends and changes in the incidence and clinical patterns of cutaneous malignant tumors observed in Gwangju City and Chonnam Province and to compare them with the previously reported data.
METHODS
A total of 1,430 cases were pathologically diagnosed as cutaneous malignant tumor during a 20 year period between January 1987 and December 2006 at the Department of Dermatology in Chonnam National University Hospital. The tumor incidence and its changes, the age and gender distribution and the anatomical sites were investigated.
RESULTS
The average annual incidence of cutaneous malignant tumors among the total number of outpatients was 1.4+/-0.5%. The incidence of cutaneous malignant tumors increased with time in 10-year intervals, from 1+/-0.25% (1987~1996) to 1.83+/-0.38% (1997~2006). Among the malignant tumors, the incidence of basal cell carcinoma (BCC) was increased up to 1.14% (1997~2006) as compared to 0.05% (1987~1996). The most common tumor among the 1,430 patients with cutaneous malignant tumor was BCC (58.96%), followed by squamous cell carcinoma (SCC) (17.58%), malignant melanoma (MM) (10.01%), metastatic carcinoma (3.57%) and malignant lymphoma (3.01%). The mean age of onset of the patients who were diagnosed with cutaneous malignant tumors was 63.64 years old (males: 62.23, females: 63.61) in this study. There was a similar incidence of malignant skin tumors between the males and females (1:1.04). The most common site for the development of malignant skin tumors were the head and neck where 94.54% of the BCCs and 63.3% of SCCs developed. The nose (33.02%) was the most preferential site for BCC, followed by the cheek (20.72%). SCC most frequently developed in the cheek (20.72%), followed by the lower lip (10.76%). The most frequent site for the development of MM was the sole and heel (36.37%) rather than the head and neck (14.7%).
CONCLUSION
The total number of patients and the incidence of malignant skin tumors have gradually increased in the area of Gwangju City and Chonnam Province. Especially, BCC has markedly increased and this is mainly due to the increment of aged people in this area, along withsocial and environmental factors.