title: Systematic skin examination in an acute geriatric unit: skin cancer prevalence.
abstract: BACKGROUND
  Ageing is a determining factor in skin cancer, but the incidence and prevalence of skin cancer in elderly patients are not known.
  
  
  OBJECTIVE
  To determine the prevalence of skin cancers in elderly patients and to assess their associated geriatric syndromes.
  
  
  METHODS
  Between January and April 2013, all consecutive incident patients hospitalized in the Acute Geriatric Unit of Lille University Hospital underwent a geriatric assessment and a systematic dermatological examination. A biopsy was taken whenever there was any lesion with suspicion of malignancy.
  
  
  RESULTS
  In total, 204 patients (mean age 85.4 years) were included, and 16 cutaneous biopsies were taken from 15 patients. Histological examination confirmed skin cancer in 11 biopsies from 10 patients: 9 basal cell carcinomas, 1 squamous cell carcinoma (SCC) and 1 malignant lentigo. The prevalence of skin cancer was 4.9%. The geriatric assessment revealed severe geriatric syndromes in the 10 patients with skin cancer: severe dependence (8/10), possible cognitive impairment (10/10), and moderate or severe malnutrition (5/10).
  
  
  CONCLUSIONS
  The prevalence of skin cancer is high in frail elderly patients. The association of severe geriatric syndromes suggests that close collaboration between geriatricians and dermatologists is essential to optimize the treatment of skin carcinoma in elderly patients.
authors.affiliation: Department of Dermatology, University Hospital of Lille, Lille, France.
authors.forename: C
authors.initials: C
authors.lastname: Templier
authors.affiliation: Acute Geriatric Medicine Department, University Hospital of Lille, Lille, France.|Vascular Ageing Biology, EA2693, Lille School of Medicine, Lille Medical University, Lille, France.
authors.forename: E
authors.initials: E
authors.lastname: Boulanger
authors.affiliation: Acute Geriatric Medicine Department, University Hospital of Lille, Lille, France.
authors.forename: Y
authors.initials: Y
authors.lastname: Boumbar
authors.affiliation: Acute Geriatric Medicine Department, University Hospital of Lille, Lille, France.
authors.forename: F
authors.initials: F
authors.lastname: Puisieux
authors.affiliation: Modern Languages Department, École Centrale de Lille, Villeneuve d'Ascq, France.
authors.forename: V
authors.initials: V
authors.lastname: Dziwniel
authors.affiliation: Department of Dermatology, University Hospital of Lille, Lille, France.
authors.forename: L
authors.initials: L
authors.lastname: Mortier
authors.affiliation: Acute Geriatric Medicine Department, University Hospital of Lille, Lille, France.|Department of Biostatistics, EA2694, University Lille 2, Lille, France.
authors.forename: J B
authors.initials: JB
authors.lastname: Beuscart
mesh_terms: D000368:Aged; D000369:Aged, 80 and over; D002280:Basal Cell Carcinoma / Q000453:epidemiology; D002294:Carcinoma, Squamous Cell / Q000453:epidemiology; D005260:Female; D016330:Frail Elderly; D015577:Geriatric Assessment / Q000379:methods; D006801:Humans; D018327:Hutchinson's Melanotic Freckle / Q000453:epidemiology; D008297:Male; D015995:Prevalence; D012307:Risk Factors; D012878:Skin Neoplasms / Q000453:epidemiology*