SUPERFICIAL CANCER IN NIGERIA

This paper analyses 435 cases of superficial cancers in Nigerians over a period of eight years. Superficial cancers accounted for about 7-2% of all tumours registered in the Cancer Registry. The most common tumour encountered was squamous carcinoma which accounted for about 67% of all superficial cancers, followed by malignant melanoma which accounted for about 240 of all superficial cancers. Basal cell carcinomas were relativeiy rare (4.80%) and the low frequency was consistent with reports in other pigmented races. Kaposi's sarcoma accounted for 3.400 of all superficial cancers. The clinico-pathological features of these tumours are discussed. It is suggested that variations in relative frequencies of the various superficial cancers in different races may be attributed to different environmental factors conditioned by degree of skin pigmentation. We are grateful to the British Empire Cancer Campaign for Research for the support of the Cancer Registry and to Mrs. Margaret Hendrickse of the Cancer Registry for her invaluable help with the records. We wish to thank the staff of the Medical Illustration Unit for the photographs. © 1969, The British Empire Cancer Campaign for Research. All rights reserved.