Background
Kangri cancer is a heat-induced skin carcinoma associated with the use of the Kangri.
This Kangri, which is a traditional fire pot, is an ingenious mode of providing warmth.
The Kangri is an earthenware container with an outer encasement of wickerwork that
is filled with ignited coal inside for providing a source of heat in winter months.
Its prolonged use may result in formation of erythema ab igne, a reticulate hypermelanosis
with erythema, which may transform into cutaneous cancer. Currently, this skin cancer
rarely is found in the Kashmir valley.
Methods
Between 2003 and 2008, all those having Kangri cancer were studied.
Results
A 5-year study was conducted during which 17 patients who were documented with a Kangri
cancer were treated. Sixteen patients had cancer on a thigh and 1 had cancer on the
abdominal wall. All had an excision of the neoplasm. Histopathology documented squamous
cell carcinoma in all patients.
Conclusion
Kangri cancer still occurs in patients who live in remote areas of Kashmir where there
is a chilling cold in winter months and have no modern and alternative cheap means
of warming other than the Kangri.
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References
- Multistep nature of cancer development.Cancer Res. 1984; 44: 4217-4233
- Kangri cancer in Kashmir valley: preliminary study.J Surg Oncol. 2006; 54: 327-333
- Epithelioma in Kashmir.Lancet. 1819; : 152-154
- Reactions to mechanical and thermal injury.in: Champion R.H. Burton J.L. Ebling F.J.G. Textbook of dermatology. 5th ed. Blackwell, Oxford (UK)1992: 777-832
- Squamous epithelial carcinoma in erythema ab igne.Hautarzt. 2000; 51: 260-263
Article info
Publication history
Published online: November 25, 2009
Accepted:
October 5,
2009
Identification
Copyright
© 2010 Mosby, Inc. Published by Elsevier Inc. All rights reserved.
