A study of skin tumors in the Jeonbuk Province over the last 27 years (1978-2004)

Background: There have been many changes to the social and medical environment in Korea over the last 30 years. Therefore, we presume that distribution and incidence of skin tumors might have changed. This is the first report to analyse skin tumors in the Jeonbuk province over the past 27 years (1978-2004). Objective: To investigate the incidence and distribution of skin tumors among people of the Jeonbuk province. Methods: A total of 4,037 cases of skin tumor were obtained from surgical pathology specimen at Department of Dermatology in Chonbuk National University Hospital. Results: Among the 4,037 cases of skin tumors, 2,856 cases (70.8%) were benign tumors, 841 cases (20.8%) were malignant tumors, and 340 cases (8.4%) were premalignant lesions. The most common benign skin tumor was melanocytic nevi with 402 cases, followed by 299 cases of seborrheic keratosis, 298 cases of epidermal cyst, and 136 cases of nevus sebaceus. Among the 841 cases of malignant skin tumors, there were 309 cases of basal cell carcinoma, 192 cases of squamous cell carcinoma, 66 cases of malignant melanoma, and 55 cases of malignant lymphoma. Of the premalignant lesions, mere were 271 cases of actinic keratosis, 67 cases of Bowen's disease and 2 cases of lentigo maligna. The predilection sites of melanocytic nevi were the face (50.0%), trunk (13.9%), scalp (11.0%), foot (9.5%), and those of seborrheic keratosis were the face (37.5%), followed by its scalp (23.1%). The predilection site of basal cell carcinoma, squamous cell carcinoma and actinic keratosis was the face (86.9%, 57.8%, 82.3%). Over the past 10 years (1994-2004), benign tumors, malignant tumors and premalignant lesions have occurred with a ratio of 58.4%, 68.7%, and 77.2% respectively. 220 patients with malignant tumors were transferred for treatment or evaluation to other departments or hospitals. Form these, the most common type of tumor was basal cell carcinoma (56 cases), followed by squamous cell carcinoma (44 cases). Conclusion: We reviewed 4,037 cases of skin tumor, confirmed histopathologically within at the Department of Dermatology at the Chonbuk National University Hospital between 1978 and 2004. This date will be made available for the study of skin tumors in Korea.