Abstract

Background: Dermatological manifestations in patients with malignancy can provide essential diagnostic and prognostic information. However, limited research has been conducted in North-East India to comprehensively study these cutaneous changes in patients with proven malignancies. This study aims to investigate the frequency and types of dermatological manifestations in patients with proven malignancies attending various departments of a Tertiary Care Hospital over the course of one year. Methods: A prospective study was conducted on consecutive patients of all ages and both sexes with proven malignancies with dermatological manifestations attending a Tertiary Care Hospital for one year. Detailed histories and thorough examinations of mucocutaneous, hair, and nail conditions were conducted using a prestructured proforma after obtaining informed consent. Relevant investigations, including KOH for fungal elements, Gram's stain for bacterial infections, and dermoscopy, were performed when needed. Clinical photographs were taken for documentation and record-keeping purposes. Results: Among 872 proven malignancy cases, 27 patients (3.09%) exhibited dermatological involvement, with a male-to female ratio of 4.4:1. The most affected age group was 61-80 years, comprising 37% of patients, followed by the 41-60 years group (33.3%). Skin cancer was the most common malignancy observed in this study, affecting 33.3% of patients, followed by gastrointestinal malignancy in 22.2%. The most frequent dermatological site of presentation was the skin (81.48%), followed by hair (18.5%) and nails (14.8%). Plaques were the most common morphological presentation (29.6%), and the scalp was the most involved site (29.6%). Specific dermatological manifestations were seen in 33% of cases, non-specific manifestations in 55.5%, and treatment-related manifestations in 40.7%. Conclusion: This study sheds light on the prevalence and diverse types of dermatological manifestations associated with malignancy in North-East India. The data obtained from this study will contribute to enhancing the understanding of cutaneous changes in cancer patients in this region, thereby aiding early diagnosis, appropriate management, and potentially improved patient outcomes.