Postburn scar carcinomas in Kashmiris

Seventy-two Kashmiri patients with postburn scar carcinomas seen over a period of 12 years have been reviewed. The incidence of this cancer in the valley appears to be comparatively high (10.4 percent of squamous cell cancers and 7.6 percent of all cutaneous cancers). A Kangri burn was the commonest aetiological agent (44.4 percent). The mean age at presentation was 41.5 years, with a mean latent period of 35.4 years. None of the patients had metastases and all tumours were well differentiated squamous cell carcinomas. Sixty-four patients underwent excisional surgery and six had amputations, with a 5-year survival rate of 68.7 percent, which is better than reported by many other series.