Cutaneous tumours, tumour-like conditions and cysts in Sri Lankans: an analysis of 1181 cases

Objective: To determine the prevalence of different types of cutaneous tumors, tumor-like conditions, and cysts in surgical excision and biopsy specimens of Sri Lankans.

Method: Histology slides of 818 cutaneous tumors, tumor-like conditions, and cysts reported at the University Department of Pathology, Colombo, during a 10-year period commencing from 1989 were reviewed.

Results: There were 724 (86.7%) benign tumors, tumor-like conditions, and cysts and 157 (13.3%) malignant tumors. Benign lesions included 340 (28.79%) soft tissue tumors, 255 (27.59%) epidermal tumors, 236 (19.98%) follicular cysts, 84 (7.11%) melanocytic naevi, and 83 (7.03%) skin appendage tumors. The common soft tissue tumors included haemangiomas and dermatofibromas. The commonest epidermal tumor was seborrhoeic keratosis. Epidermal cysts (78.4%) were the commonest type of follicular cysts, followed by trichilemmal cysts (12.7%). Common skin appendage tumors included pilomatrixoma, syringoma, eccrine spiradenoma, and nodular hidradenoma. The common malignant tumors were squamous cell carcinoma, basal cell carcinoma, and metastatic deposits.

Conclusion: The common skin tumors were haemangiomas, dermatofibromas, seborrhoeic keratosis, and benign melanocytic naevi.