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The Site Distribution of Neoplastic Skin Tumours Seen at the University of Benin Teaching Hospital Over a Ten-Year Period

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Abstract

Knowing the distribution of skin neoplastic lesions across body sites and their patterns can assist in identifying potential causes, guiding a diagnosis, and choosing the best course of treatment. Despite this, there is a paucity of research in Nigeria that is only concerned with the distribution of neoplastic skin lesions by body site. This study was aimed to determine the body-site distribution of neoplastic skin lesions at the University of Benin Teaching Hospital over a ten-year period. This is a retrospective study of all cases of histologically diagnosed neoplastic skin lesions with documented specified body sites over a 10-year period at the Department of Anatomic Pathology, University of Benin Teaching Hospital. The results showed that the malignant skin tumours were preferentially seen in the lower limbs followed by the head and neck region while the benign skin lesions were preferentially seen in the head and neck region followed by the lower limbs. The anogenital region was the least common body site in both malignant and benign lesions. In summary, the baseline data for body-site distribution of neoplastic skin tumours in our environment has been elucidated. We anticipate that this will supply priceless information for future comparative research while also aiding the dermatologist and pathologist in arriving at a definitive diagnosis.


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