ABSTRACT

In this study, it was aimed to determine frequency of Demodex folliculorum infestation in patients with urological cancers.

This study evaluated 49 patients with urological cancers; 31 sex-matched healthy individuals as a control group were included in the study between March 2011 and April 2012 at the Hospital of Mustafa Kemal University, School of Medicine, Urology Clinic. The demographic characteristics of the patients were recorded. Samples from the perineal region of the subjects were taken by standard method of superficial skin biopsy and evaluated by microscopy. Presence of five or more Demodex sp. in a cm2 was considered as positive.

Mean age was found to be 60.2±18.6 years. D. folliculorum was found to be positive in 11 (22.4%) of the patients with cancer and in 1 (3.2%) of the subjects in the control group. It was found that D. folliculorum frequency was significantly higher in the cancer group compared to the control group. No significant difference was found among the cancer groups in terms of D. folliculorum detection. In the cancer group, mean age was significantly higher in D. folliculorum positive patients than negative ones.

It should be kept in mind that D. folliculorum incidence may increase in immunosuppressive states, such as cancer.

Keywords: Demodex folliculorum, cancer, immunosuppression, Hatay