title: Nevoid Basal Cell Carcinoma Syndrome: Report from the Zurich Nevoid Basal Cell Carcinoma Syndrome Cohort.
abstract: BACKGROUND
  Nevoid basal cell carcinoma syndrome (NBCCS, Gorlin-Goltz syndrome) presents various symptoms and can disfigure patients. The estimated prevalence is around 1:100,000.
  
  
  OBJECTIVE
  To systematically investigate the clinical manifestations of NBCCS patients of the Zurich register and compare them with those described in 4 epidemiological studies performed in other countries.
  
  
  METHODS
  We analyzed patient characteristics and clinical manifestations in a register of 30 NBCCS patients in Zurich, Switzerland. We compared our findings to the results of 4 epidemiological studies performed in America, Australia, Japan and the UK.
  
  
  RESULTS
  We obtained information concerning basal cell carcinomas (BCCs) and jaw cysts from 28 patients out of our population of 30 NBCCS patients. The mean age at onset of the first BCC was 24 years, and the mean age at diagnosis of the first jaw cyst was 15.6 years. The average number of jaw cysts was 8.4; the average number of BCCs was 207. 72.5% of the examined BCCs showed a nodular histology, but we also found scirrhous and superficial types.
  
  
  CONCLUSIONS
  The disease burden associated with NBCCS diagnosed in Swiss patients is significant and comparable to that of other countries. Regular skin examination and oromaxillary examinations should be performed early in diagnosis, and patients should undergo early UV protection. Nodular BCC is the most common BCC subtype in this patient population.
authors.affiliation: Department of Dermatology, University Hospital Zurich, Zurich, Switzerland.
authors.forename: Susanne
authors.initials: S
authors.lastname: Rehefeldt-Erne
authors.forename: Mirjam C
authors.initials: MC
authors.lastname: Nägeli
authors.forename: Nina
authors.initials: N
authors.lastname: Winterton
authors.forename: Lea
authors.initials: L
authors.lastname: Felderer
authors.forename: Lisa
authors.initials: L
authors.lastname: Weibel
authors.forename: Jürg
authors.initials: J
authors.lastname: Hafner
authors.forename: Reinhard
authors.initials: R
authors.lastname: Dummer
mesh_terms: D000293:Adolescent; D000328:Adult; D017668:Age of Onset; D001478:Basal Cell Nevus Syndrome / Q000175:diagnosis* / Q000453:epidemiology; D002648:Child; D002675:Child, Preschool; D005260:Female; D006801:Humans; D007223:Infant; D007231:Infant, Newborn; D008279:Magnetic Resonance Imaging; D008297:Male; D009017:Morbidity / Q000639:trends; D012042:Registries; D015996:Survival Rate / Q000639:trends; D013557:Switzerland / Q000453:epidemiology; D055815:Young Adult