title: Basal cell carcinoma in a series of renal transplant recipients: epidemiology and clinicopathologic features.
abstract: BACKGROUND
  Basal cell carcinoma (BCC) is the most common malignancy among Caucasians worldwide. The risk of BCC is 10-16 times higher among immunosuppressed transplant recipients compared with the general population.
  
  
  OBJECTIVE
  To analyze the incidence, clinical presentation, histologic features, treatment and recurrence rate of BCC in a cohort of 69 renal transplant recipients (RTRs; 53 male).
  
  
  METHODS
  Retrospective population-based cohort study of immunosuppressed RTRs.
  
  
  RESULTS
  Ten of 69 patients (14.5%, five male) developed a total of 17 BCCs, mostly on the head. Mean age at first diagnosis of BCC was 65.5 +/- 8.5 years, and latency between kidney transplantation and diagnosis of the first BCC was 11.1 +/- 6.3 years (mean +/- SD). The risk of female RTRs to develop BCCs appeared to be three times higher than the risk of male RTRs, and female RTRs developed BCCs earlier after transplantation. Nodular BCC was the most common histologic subtype. Most BCCs in these RTRs were treated by complete surgical excision. Recurrence after surgical excision was observed in one of the 10 patients (10%).
  
  
  CONCLUSIONS
  Our results suggest female RTRs to be at higher risk to develop cutaneous BCCs than male RTRs. There are no differences in localization and clinicopathologic presentation of BCCs developing in RTRs compared with immunocompetent patients. Therefore, BCCs in RTRs do not require different treatment than in other patient groups. As patients tend to develop a second BCC, close follow-up is mandatory.
authors.affiliation: Kempf & Pfaltz Histological Diagnostics, Schaffhauserplatz 3, CH-8042 Zürich, Switzerland.
authors.forename: Kirsten D
authors.initials: KD
authors.lastname: Mertz
authors.forename: Dörthe
authors.initials: D
authors.lastname: Proske
authors.forename: Natascha
authors.initials: N
authors.lastname: Kettelhack
authors.forename: Christian
authors.initials: C
authors.lastname: Kegel
authors.forename: Gérald
authors.initials: G
authors.lastname: Keusch
authors.forename: Albin
authors.initials: A
authors.lastname: Schwarz
authors.forename: Patrice M
authors.initials: PM
authors.lastname: Ambühl
authors.forename: Madeleine
authors.initials: M
authors.lastname: Pfaltz
authors.forename: Werner
authors.initials: W
authors.lastname: Kempf
mesh_terms: D000293:Adolescent; D000328:Adult; D000368:Aged; D002280:Basal Cell Carcinoma / Q000453:epidemiology* / Q000276:immunology / Q000473:pathology; D002648:Child; D005260:Female; D006801:Humans; D016867:Immunocompromised Host; D016030:Kidney Transplantation / Q000276:immunology; D008297:Male; D008875:Middle Aged; D009364:Neoplasm Recurrence, Local / Q000453:epidemiology; D012189:Retrospective Studies; D012737:Sex Factors; D012878:Skin Neoplasms / Q000453:epidemiology* / Q000276:immunology / Q000473:pathology; D055815:Young Adult