Epidemiology and aetiology of basal cell carcinoma.
Basal cell carcinoma (BCC) is a malignant epithelial neoplasm of the skin preferentially affecting male caucasians and is rarely observed in patients with more intense skin pigmentation. A characteristic feature of BCCs are their extremely low risk to metastasize. Epidemiological data indicate that the overall incidence is increasing worldwide significantly by about 3-10% per annum.(1-3) Based on the increasing incidence of this usually not life-threatening tumour BCC appears to develop into a growing public health problem. This review elucidates the risk factors for the development and for the progression of BCC leading to an improved understanding of this tumour.
Roewert-Huber
J
J
Department of Dermatology Venereology and Allergy, Skin Cancer Center Charité, University Hospital of Berlin, Berlin, Germany. joachim.roewert@charite.de
Lange-Asschenfeldt
B
B
Stockfleth
E
E
Kerl
H
H
D002280:Basal Cell Carcinoma / Q000453:epidemiology* / Q000209:etiology / Q000473:pathology; D018450:Disease Progression; D006801:Humans; D012307:Risk Factors; D012878:Skin Neoplasms / Q000453:epidemiology* / Q000209:etiology / Q000473:pathology