Correlation of Dermatoglyphics with Clinical Characteristics of Cervix Carcinoma Patients at a Tertiary Care Centre in Kanpur, Uttar Pradesh, India

Abstract

Introduction: Cervix cancer is most prevalent cancer in females. Early detection and regular screening methods are helpful for the prevention of cervix cancer related morbidity and mortality. Early stages of development, dermatoglyphic features are generated under genetic influences, but they can be influenced by environmental variables during the first three months of pregnancy. These trends may reflect an individual’s genetic make-up and, as a result, his or her proclivity for particular diseases. Therefore, the dermatoglyphic prints may serves as a non invasive anatomic marker of cervix cancer risk, allowing for early detection and treatment. Aim: To characterise dermatoglyphics in cervix cancer patient and correlate them to principal clinical features. Materials and Methods: This cross-sectional study included 300 cervix cancer patients, analysed the clinical presentations and dermatoglyphics prospectively after obtaining ethics approval from a tertiary care hospital, Kanpur, Uttar Pradesh, India, during December 2016-January 2020. The palmar dermatoglyphics (loops, arches, whorls and palmar angle) were obtained and evaluated for correlation with principal clinical features like vaginal discharge, postmenopausal bleeding, and intermenstrual bleeding using Spearman’s correlation test. Results: In this study, the frequencies of arches, loops and whorls were 81, 2051, 868 respectively. A strong positive correlation (r>0.92) existed between whorls of palmar digits and clinical features of cervix cancer. Conclusion: Dermatoglyphic patterns could be used to investigate the genetic cause of cervix cancer and could potentially be used as a non invasive anatomical screening method in high-risk patients.