title: Melanoma and non-melanoma skin cancer in psoriatic patients treated with high-dose phototherapy.
abstract: OBJECTIVE
  The carcinogenic effect of plus ultraviolet A (PUVA)-therapy in psoriatic patients has been widely demonstrated, while data on the safety of narrow band (311 nm) ultraviolet B (nb-UVB) are scarce. We investigated the occurrence of melanoma and non-melanoma skin cancer (NMSC) in psoriatic patients treated with nb-UVB or PUVA-therapy.
  
  
  METHODS
  This retrospective study included patients affected by psoriasis, who had been treated with nb-UVB or PUVA-therapy. Clinical data and phenotypic risk factors were collected and a total body examination was performed at a routine appointment during the study period.
  
  
  RESULTS
  We examined 92 patients (60 males and 32 females; mean age: 53.5 years, range: 20-83 years) treated with PUVA-therapy (42/92, 45%) or with nb-UVB (50/92, 55%) for 1-28 years (mean: 7.1 years). Among patients treated with PUVA, nine skin tumors (one melanoma, seven basal cell carcinoma (BCCs) and one squamous cell carcinoma (SCC)) were detected in 2/42 (4.7%) patients, while in the nb-UVB group, 14 skin tumors including two melanomas, four BCCs, and eight SCCs were diagnosed in 6/50 (12%) patients.
  
  
  CONCLUSIONS
  A noteworthy number of NMSC were diagnosed in this Mediterranean population of patients exposed to high-dose UV treatment. A thorough risk-benefit evaluation should always be done before UV treatment and patients should be carefully monitored for skin cancer during and after treatment discontinuation.
authors.affiliation: a Institute of Dermatology, Catholic University of the Sacred Heart , Rome , Italy.
authors.forename: Alessia
authors.initials: A
authors.lastname: Maiorino
authors.affiliation: a Institute of Dermatology, Catholic University of the Sacred Heart , Rome , Italy.
authors.forename: Clara
authors.initials: C
authors.lastname: De Simone
authors.affiliation: a Institute of Dermatology, Catholic University of the Sacred Heart , Rome , Italy.
authors.forename: Francesca
authors.initials: F
authors.lastname: Perino
authors.affiliation: a Institute of Dermatology, Catholic University of the Sacred Heart , Rome , Italy.
authors.forename: Giacomo
authors.initials: G
authors.lastname: Caldarola
authors.affiliation: a Institute of Dermatology, Catholic University of the Sacred Heart , Rome , Italy.
authors.forename: Ketty
authors.initials: K
authors.lastname: Peris
mesh_terms: D000328:Adult; D000368:Aged; D000369:Aged, 80 and over; D005260:Female; D006801:Humans; D008297:Male; D008875:Middle Aged; D009381:Neoplasms, Radiation-Induced / Q000453:epidemiology*; D011701:PUVA Therapy / Q000009:adverse effects*; D011565:Psoriasis / Q000188:drug therapy / Q000532:radiotherapy*; D012189:Retrospective Studies; D018570:Risk Assessment; D012307:Risk Factors; D012878:Skin Neoplasms / Q000453:epidemiology*; D014467:Ultraviolet Therapy / Q000009:adverse effects*; D055815:Young Adult
keywords: Psoriasis; melanoma; non-melanoma skin cancer; phototherapy