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 per cent of squamous cell cancers and 7.6 per cent of all cutaneous cancers). A Kangri burn was the commonest aetiological agent (44.4 per cent). 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 amptutations, with a 5-year survival rate of 68.7 per cent, which is better than reported by many other series.