Clinicopathological evaluation of nonmelanoma skin cancer

Basal cell carcinoma (BCC) and squamous cell carcinoma (SCC), in combination, are referred to as nonmelanoma skin cancers (NMSCs). NMSC is not as extensively studied in the Asian population as it is in the Caucasian population.

This study sought to evaluate the clinical and histopathologic aspects of NMSC from cases of cutaneous malignancies.

The present study is a descriptive analysis of NMSC specimens seen at Department of Pathology, SSIMS and RC, Davangere. Histologically diagnosed NMSC, i.e. BCC and SCC specimens from January 2005 to December 2009 were analyzed according to site distribution, risk factors and histological variants.

Of the various specimens received during the 5year study period, 60 were histologically categorized as skin malignancies, of which 31(51.6%) cases were of NMSC. SCC was the most common NMSC constituting 26 (83.9%) cases and 5 NMSC cases (16.1%) were of BCC. The most common incidence was among the age group 60-80 years (80%) for BCC and 40-60 years (50%) for SCC. Head and neck was the most common site of presentation with predilection for face. Forty-six percent of SCC was histologically categorized as well differentiated, 42.3% as moderately differentiated and 11.5% as poorly differentiated. Most common histological variant of BCC was solid (nodular) type.

NMSC often associated with greater morbidity, necessitating increased efforts to assess risk factors in individuals, to encourage periodic self-examination and professional evaluation of skin and to optimize strategies for earlier diagnosis and treatment.