Carcinoma of the Facial Skin Among Yemenis: A Prospective Hospital Based-Study

Abstract

Objective: The study aimed to study facial skin carcinoma among Yemenis to determine, the types, sites, the relation of this disease to the age and gender, and to define the possible risk factors associated with the development of facial skin carcinoma. Material and methods: The study is a prospective descriptive hospital-based- study carried out at Al-gomhori- Teaching Hospital in the Sana'a Republic of Yemen. The material consisted of 126 cases of Yemen patients who attending to the department of oral and maxillofacial surgery and to the consultant unit of the head and neck surgery and diagnosed clinically, radiographically and histopathological as having facial skin carcinoma. Patients who had previous treatment (surgical, radiation or chemotherapy) or who had recurrent cancer were excluded. Data: were collected from history (using a questionnaire sheet), clinical examination of patients and from the histopathology results of the biopsies. Data were analysis using Statistical Package for Social Science (SPSS). Results: In this study126 cases were reported, 81 cases (64.3%) were males and 45 cases (35.7%) were females, male to female ratio was 1.8:1. Carcinoma of the Facial skin is still remaining the disease of elderly patients, particularly those who have a history of long-standing exposure to sunlight. The patient’s age was ranged from 8 to 92 years, the mean age for both gender was64.29 ± 15.33 years. The majority of patients (95%) were over the age of 40 years. Basal cell carcinoma was the communist type, accounting 74.6%. Sqaumous cell carcinoma was the second type of facial skin carcinoma, accounting for 25.4%. Naso-labial region and infera-orbital region were the most involving sites, accounting 20.6% and 19.8% respectively. Outdoor works (long-standing exposure to sunlight) was the main risk factor that plays an important role to developing 68.1% of basal cell carcinoma and 75.0% of sqaumous cell carcinoma. Conclusion: Carcinoma of the facial skin in Yemen as in all countries still remains the disease of the elderly patients, 95% were over the age of 40 years. Males were affected more than females. M:F ratio was 1.8:1. Basal cell carcinoma was the most common type, accounting 74.6%. Naso-labial region and the naso-labial region were the most involving sites, accounting 20.6% and 19.8% respectively. Prolonged exposure to sunlight (outdoor work) was the main risk factor that plays an important role to development of facial skin carcinoma among Yemenis.