Tumours of Skin and Adnexa: A Histopathological Cross-Sectional Study

Aim: Pathologists and dermatologists face a major challenge in the diagnosis and treatment of skin and adnexal tumors due to limited clinical and pathological data. Adnexal tumors in old age tend to mimic malignant tumors. Histopathological examination is the mainstay for differentiating between benign and malignant tumors of the skin and adnexa because of the limited use of immunohistochemistry. Primary objective: To study the histopathological features of skin and adnexal tumors. Secondary- to classify various skin and adnexal tumors according to the World Health Organization classification and to study variations according to age, sex and site. A descriptive, cross-sectional study with statistical analysis. Materials and Methods: This study was conducted in the pathology department of a tertiary care hospital in Central India. Total 190 samples were submitted. Collected data were analyzed by performing chi-square test using SPSS V.16 software. Results: Out of 190 cases, 127 cases were diagnosed as benign and 63 cases were malignant tumors of the skin and adnexa; 42.1% cases were of keratinocytic origin. Malignant keratinocytic tumors were the most common. The study included 101 females and 89 males. The majority of cases (49%) occurred in the head and neck region. Neurofibroma is the most common benign skin tumor. Conclusion: Skin tumors and their various histological types always create diagnostic difficulties. Histopathology is the gold standard that aids in the early diagnosis of skin and adnexal tumors, thus improving the prognosis.