HISTOPATHOLOGICAL SPECTRUM OF SKIN LESIONS: A TWO YEAR RETROSPECTIVE STUDY.

Abstract

INTRODUCTION: The skin being largest organ of the body has vast spectrum of disorders which can be difcult to diagnose correctly solely on the basis of clinical features. Hence histopathological examination is necessary to categorise skin lesions. The aim was to study relative frequency of various skin lesions and distribution of these lesions according to age and sex. METHODS: This is a retrospective descriptive hospital based study. The skin biopsies samples which came in the duration of two years from January 2019 to December 2020 at the Department of Pathology, Sardar Patel Medical college and associated group of hospitals, Bikaner, Rajasthan were taken in this study. All skin biopsies that showed denite histopathological diagnosis were included. After proper xing and staining procedures these lesions were examined under light microscopy and categorized as non-neoplastic and neoplastic. Relative frequency of various lesions, distribution of lesions according to age and sex was analyzed. The data collected was tabulated, interpreted and compared with other similar studies. RESULTS: Out of 346 patients, incidence of neoplastic lesions 259 (74.9%) were higher than non-neoplastic lesions 87(25.1%). Males were affected more compared to females with male to female ratio 1.45:1. Non-neoplastic lesions were mostly caused because of infectious etiologies among which leprosy was the most common infection. Keratinocytic tumors 99(52.2%) constituted most common type of neoplastic lesion. Benign tumors 191(73.7%) outnumbered malignant tumors 68(26.3%). The cases of benign tumors were seen more in younger population while that of malignant tumors were seen in older age groups. Among the keratinocytic type of malignant skin tumors squamous cell carcinoma (63.5%) was the most common variant which was followed by basal cell carcinoma 19(36.5%). Male predominance was observed in both squamous cell carcinoma and basal cell carcinoma. CONCLUSION: A wide heterogenesity of skin lesions was observed in the present study . These skin lesions were mostly affecting age group of 10-30 years. Inspite of extensive programmes and research, leprosy and tuberculosis remains a rampant cause of infectious non-neoplastic skin lesions. Sometimes ignorance by patient for a very small appearing skin lesions becomes life threatening. Hence early clinician consultation with proper examination and accurate histopathological diagnosis becomes the mainstay in early treatment and recovery.