Basal cell carcinomas and actinic keratoses seen in dermatological practice in France: a cross-sectional survey.
BACKGROUND
Most actinic keratoses (AKs) and a number of basal cell carcinomas (BCCs) cannot be assessed by pathological records.


OBJECTIVE
To estimate prospectively the figures and characteristics of BCCs and AKs seen by French dermatologists, their medical load, and present a more realistic approach to their incidence.


METHODS
A cross-sectional study conducted in France in a representative sample of dermatologists (n = 215). Out-patients seen for 1 or more BCCs or AKs were recorded over 4 non-consecutive weeks.


RESULTS
Among 78,300 out-patients, 1,321 had 1 (or more) BCC, and 3,688 had 1 or more AKs (1 and 5% of consultations made by dermatologists). When extrapolating, the medical load in France was estimated at 248,000 and 693,000 consultations/year leading to a clinical diagnosis of BCC and AK, respectively. A total of 1,655 BCCs were diagnosed including 839 superficial (50.7%), 636 nodular (38.4%), 137 morpheiform (8.3%) and 43 other types (2.6%). Superficial and nodular BCCs were more frequently diagnosed with a small size (<10 mm) than morpheiform BCCs.


CONCLUSIONS
Our study in France provides the first estimate of the clinical burden represented by AKs and BCCs in dermatology practice.
Bernard
P
P
Department of Dermatology, CHU Reims, Robert Debré Hospital, Reims, France. pbernard@chu-reims.fr
Dupuy
A
A
Sasco
A
A
Brun
P
P
Duru
G
G
Nicoloyannis
N
N
Grob
J-J
JJ
D000328:Adult; D017677:Age Distribution; D000368:Aged; D000369:Aged, 80 and over; D002280:Basal Cell Carcinoma / Q000453:epidemiology*; D016009:Chi-Square Distribution; D003430:Cross-Sectional Studies; D003880:Dermatology / Q000706:statistics & numerical data; D005260:Female; D005602:France / Q000453:epidemiology; D006801:Humans; D015994:Incidence; D007642:Keratosis / Q000453:epidemiology* / Q000209:etiology; D008297:Male; D008875:Middle Aged; D011446:Prospective Studies; D017678:Sex Distribution; D012878:Skin Neoplasms / Q000453:epidemiology*; D013223:Statistics as Topic; D013472:Sunlight / Q000009:adverse effects*