title: Epidemiology of basal cell carcinomas and squamous cell carcinomas in a Department of Dermatology: a 5 year review.
abstract: BACKGROUND
  Non-melanoma skin cancer, a common designation for both basal cell carcinomas and squamous cell carcinomas, is the most frequent malignant skin neoplasm.
  
  
  OBJECTIVE
  Epidemiologic characterization of the population with Non-melanoma skin cancer.
  
  
  METHODS
  Retrospective analysis of all patients diagnosed with Non-melanoma skin cancer based on histopathologic analysis of all incisional or excisional skin biopsies performed between 2004 and 2008 in a Department of Dermatology.
  
  
  RESULTS
  A total of 3075 Non-melanoma skin cancers were identified, representing 88% of all malignant skin neoplasms (n=3493) diagnosed in the same period. Of those, 68,3% were basal cell carcinomas. Most Non-melanoma skin cancer patients were female and over 60 years old. Of all Non-melanoma skin cancer, 81,7% (n=1443) were located in sun-exposed skin, and represented 95,1% of malignant skin neoplasms in sun-exposed skin. Non-melanoma skin cancer was the most frequent malignant skin neoplasm in most topographic locations, except for abdomen and pelvis - over 95% of all malignant skin neoplasms in the face, neck and scalp were Non-melanoma skin cancer. Basal cell carcinomas were clearly predominant in all locations, except in upper and lower limbs, lower lip and genitals, where squamous cell carcinomas represented respectively 77,7%, 77,4%, 94,7% and 95,3% of the Non-melanoma skin cancers.
  
  
  CONCLUSIONS
  Being the most common skin cancer, Non-melanoma skin cancer should be under constant surveillance, in order to monitor its epidemiologic dynamics, the efficiency of preventive measures and the adaptation of the healthcare resources.
authors.affiliation: Serviço de Dermatologia e Venereologia, Hospitais da Universidade de Coimbra, EPE, Praceta Mota Pinto3000-075 Coimbra, Portugal. pedro.andrade@portugalmail.com
authors.forename: Pedro
authors.initials: P
authors.lastname: Andrade
authors.forename: Maria Manuel
authors.initials: MM
authors.lastname: Brites
authors.forename: Ricardo
authors.initials: R
authors.lastname: Vieira
authors.forename: Angelina
authors.initials: A
authors.lastname: Mariano
authors.forename: José Pedro
authors.initials: JP
authors.lastname: Reis
authors.forename: Oscar
authors.initials: O
authors.lastname: Tellechea
authors.forename: Américo
authors.initials: A
authors.lastname: Figueiredo
mesh_terms: D000368:Aged; D001938:Brazil / Q000453:epidemiology; D002280:Basal Cell Carcinoma / Q000453:epidemiology*; D002294:Carcinoma, Squamous Cell / Q000453:epidemiology*; D005260:Female; D006801:Humans; D008297:Male; D008875:Middle Aged; D012189:Retrospective Studies; D012878:Skin Neoplasms / Q000453:epidemiology*