A Histopathological Study of Skin Lesions in Individuals with Oculocutaneous Albinism in Togo in 2019

Abstract

Objective. The aim of this study was to study the histopathological patterns of skin lesions in persons with albinism (PWA) in Togo in 2019. Method. During two mobile skin care clinics in 2019, biopsies/excisional biopsies were performed in PWA in case of clinical doubt or in front of lesions suspected to be cancerous for histological examination. Anatomopathological reports were thus analysed. Results. During the two mobile skin care clinics, 115 biopsies/excisional biopsies were carried out in 79 PWA, with a mean age of 24 ± 16.1 years. Histological examination led to a diagnosis in 110 cases (95.6%) and was inconclusive in 5 cases (4 cases of uncertain histological diagnosis and one case of nonspecific histological lesions). Fourteen different histological diagnoses were made, with a frequency ranging from 0.9% (one case) to 26.9% (31 cases). The four most frequent diagnoses in descending order were basal cell carcinomas (BCCs) (31 cases; 26.9%), invasive squamous cell carcinomas (SCCs) or Bowen’s disease (23 cases; 20%), keratosis (20 cases; 17.3%), and cysts (seven cases; 6.1%). The 54 skin carcinomas were diagnosed in 33 (41.8%) of the 79 patients who underwent skin biopsies/excisional biopsies. The BCC/SCC ratio was 1.3. No cases of cutaneous melanoma had been diagnosed. Conclusion. Skin cancers represent the main histological diagnosis in PWA (46.9%) in Togo in 2019. The pattern of cutaneous malignancies in PWA shows the same trend as that seen in Caucasians with a predominance of basal cell carcinomas.

Dermatologic manifestations in patients with the Hermansky–Pudlak syndrome types 1 and 3

“…Melanoma is rare, and we found no reported cases of melanoma, however, cases of amelanotic melanoma in HPS have been previously reported in the literature [ 15 ]. This is consistent with findings of patients with albinism in Brazil and several countries in Africa [ 16 – 21 ].…”

“…Melanoma is rare, and we found no reported cases of melanoma, however, cases of amelanotic melanoma in HPS have been previously reported in the literature [15]. This is consistent with findings of patients with albinism in Brazil and several countries in Africa [16][17][18][19][20][21]. Acne was the most common skin condition in our sample which is consistent with its high prevalence in the general United States (U.S.) population.…”

Current Trends of Carcinoma: Experience of a Tertiary Care Cancer Center in North India

“…Amongst skin carcinomas, both basal cell carcinoma (BCC) and SCC showed equal frequency. Though many studies were done in the past showed a variable incidence of BCC and SCC in skin carcinoma [ 27 ].…”

Labio-Jugal Squamous Cell Carcinoma on HIV Site: Surgical Excision and Reconstruction with a Musculocutaneous Flap of the Pectoralis Major: A Case Report

“…Squamous cell carcinomas are frequent in sub-Saharan Africa with preferential localization at the oropharyngeal and oral level in 90% of cases [4]. Invasive squamous cell carcinoma represented 20% of skin cancer in people with albinism in Togo [5]. More and more viral infections such as HIV, HBV and HCV are implicated in the occurrence of squamous cell carcinomas of the ENT and cervicofacial sphere [6] [7].…”