NON-MELANOMA SKIN CANCER IN A DEPARTMENT OF DERMATOLOGY – A 5-YEAR REVIEW

Abstract

Non-melanoma skin cancer (NMSC), common designation for both basal cell carcinomas (BCC) and squamous cell carcinomas (SCC), is the most frequent malignant skin neoplasm. The authors have performed a retros- pective analysis of all patients diagnosed with NMSC based on histopathologic analysis of all incisional or excisional skin biopsies performed between 2004 and 2008 in a Department of Dermatology. A total of 3075 NMSC were iden- tified, representing 88% of all malignant skin neoplasms (n=3493) diagnosed in the same period. Of those, 68,3% were BCC. Most NMSC patients were female and over 60 years old. Of all NMSC, 81,7% (n=1443) were located in sun-exposed skin, and represented 95,1% of malignant skin neoplasms in sun-exposed skin. NMSC was the most frequent malignant skin neoplasm in most topographic locations, except for abdomen and pelvis – over 95% of all malig- nant skin neoplasms in the face, neck and scalp were NSMC. BCC was clearly predominant in all locations, except in upper and lower limbs, lower lip and genitals, where SCC represented respectively 77,7%, 77,4%, 94,7% and 95,3% of NMSC.

Being the most common skin cancer, NMSC should be under constant surveillance, in order to monitor its epidemiologic dynamics, the efficiency of preventive measures and the adaptation of the healthcare resources.

KEYWORDS – Skin Neoplasms; Carcinoma, Basal Cell; Carcinoma, Squamous Cell.