Incidence of cutaneous squamous cell carcinoma in a New Zealand population of chronic lymphocytic leukaemia patients.
BACKGROUND
Chronic lymphocytic leukaemia (CLL) is associated with an increased incidence and aggressiveness of skin cancers, particularly cutaneous squamous cell carcinoma (cSCC), but little is known about cSCC incidence in Australasian CLL patients.


OBJECTIVE
In this retrospective study, we analysed the incidence of cSCC in patients seen at a tertiary hospital in New Zealand (NZ).


METHODS
We retrospectively assessed the clinical history and histology data of CLL patients (n = 371) who presented to the Haematology Department, Christchurch Hospital, NZ during the period 1996-2015. Baseline characteristics, incidence of second cancers, treatment details and overall survival were analysed.


RESULTS
During follow-up (median = 11.8 years), 221 second cancers were recorded in 88 patients. Of these cancers, 185 were cSCC, removed from 61 patients. In 56% of these patients, >1 cSCC was removed, and the majority of cSCC occurred following the treatment for CLL. The cumulative incidence of a first cSCC was 11% at 5 years, whereas the cumulative incidence of a subsequent cSCC was 88% at 5 years. The incidence of cSCC in male patients was threefold higher than that reported for the general NZ population.


CONCLUSIONS
NZ CLL patients have a high incidence of cSCC relative to the levels observed in the general population, which are themselves among the highest in the world. The careful monitoring of CLL patients is warranted, particularly those who have a progressive disease or have had a first cSCC removed.
Haematology Research Group, Christchurch Hospital, Christchurch, New Zealand.|Department of Pathology, University of Otago, Christchurch, New Zealand.
B D
BD
Hock
Department of Pathology, University of Otago, Christchurch, New Zealand.
N D
ND
McIntosh
Haematology Research Group, Christchurch Hospital, Christchurch, New Zealand.|Department of Pathology, University of Otago, Christchurch, New Zealand.
J L
JL
McKenzie
Biostatistics and Computational Biology Unit, University of Otago, Christchurch, New Zealand.
J F
JF
Pearson
Department of Plastic and Reconstructive Surgery, Christchurch Hospital, Christchurch, New Zealand.|Department of Surgery, University of Otago, Christchurch, New Zealand.
J W
JW
Simcock
Department of Pathology, University of Otago, Christchurch, New Zealand.|Haematology Department, Christchurch Hospital, Christchurch, New Zealand.
S A
SA
MacPherson
D000328:Adult; D000368:Aged; D000369:Aged, 80 and over; D002294:Carcinoma, Squamous Cell / Q000453:epidemiology* / Q000473:pathology / Q000628:therapy; D005260:Female; D005500:Follow-Up Studies; D006801:Humans; D015994:Incidence; D015451:Leukemia, Lymphocytic, Chronic, B-Cell / Q000453:epidemiology* / Q000473:pathology / Q000628:therapy; D008297:Male; D008875:Middle Aged; D009364:Neoplasm Recurrence, Local; D016609:Neoplasms, Second Primary / Q000453:epidemiology* / Q000473:pathology / Q000628:therapy; D009520:New Zealand / Q000453:epidemiology; D012189:Retrospective Studies; D012878:Skin Neoplasms / Q000453:epidemiology* / Q000473:pathology / Q000628:therapy
chronic lymphocytic leukaemia; incidence; skin cancer; squamous cell carcinoma