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Updated: Feb 13, 2026
Murine Corneal Transplantation: A Model to Study the Most Common Form of Solid Organ Transplantation
Published on: November 17, 2014
Nonmelanoma Skin Cancers in Solid-Organ Transplant Recipients: A Single Center Experience
Abbas Albayati1, Burak Ozkan, Atilla Adnan Eyuboglu
1From the Department of Plastic and Reconstructive Surgery, Baskent University Faculty of Medicine, Ankara, Turkey.
Objectives:
Skin cancers are one of the most common malignancies in solid-organ transplant recipients. Increased age and immunosuppressive drug use are risk factors for posttransplant skin malignancies. We evaluated nonmelanocytic skin cancer incidence and development time in transplant patients.
Materials And Methods:
We reviewed 1833 patients who received kidney, liver, and heart grafts between 1996 and 2016 at Baskent University. We excluded melanocytic skin cancers, premalignant lesions, and benign skin tumors.
Results:
Of 1833 patients, 1253 were male (68.4%) and 580 were female (31.6%), composed of 1133 kidney (61.8%), 512 liver (27.9%), and 120 heart recipients (6.5%). Of these, 22 patients (18 kidney/3 liver/1 heart) developed 23 different types of skin cancer. Prevalence of skin cancer was 1.20%. Mean age at presentation was 55.8 years (range, 37-71 y). Average time from transplant to skin malignancy was 6.1 years (range, 1-13 y), with the most common being basal cell carcinoma (43%, 10 cases), followed by squamous cell carcinoma (39%, 9 cases) and Kaposi sarcoma (13%, 3 cases). Tumor sites included head and neck (15 case), trunk (2 cases), lower extremity (2 cases), and upper extremity (2 cases). Neither local recurrence nor distant metastasis was shown.
Conclusions:
Skin cancer risk is increased in solid-organ transplant recipients versus the general population. Although squamous cell carcinoma is the most common tumor in this patient population, followed by basal cell carcinoma, we found this reversed in our patients. The low prevalence of skin malignancy (1.20%) may be associated with close clinical follow-up to detect premalignant skin lesions and the lowdose immunosuppressive drug regimen. We believe that local recurrence and distant metastasis were absent because we use a wide surgical margin of excision and provide strict follow-up. Routine dermatologic follow-up visits of transplant recipients are recommended to detect and treat early skin cancer and premalignant lesions and thus lower morbidity and mortality.
Insights
Solid-organ transplant recipients have a higher risk of developing skin cancer. This study found basal cell carcinoma more common than squamous cell carcinoma in these patients, with a low overall prevalence.
Area of Science:
- Oncology
- Transplant Surgery
- Dermatology
Background:
- Solid-organ transplant recipients face increased risks for skin malignancies.
- Age and immunosuppressive drugs are known risk factors for posttransplant skin cancers.
Purpose of the Study:
- To evaluate the incidence and development time of nonmelanocytic skin cancer in solid-organ transplant recipients.
- To analyze the types and characteristics of skin cancers in this patient cohort.
Main Methods:
- A retrospective review of 1833 solid-organ transplant recipients (kidney, liver, heart) between 1996 and 2016.
- Exclusion of melanocytic skin cancers, premalignant lesions, and benign skin tumors.
Main Results:
- Skin cancer developed in 1.20% of patients (22/1833), with a mean age of 55.8 years.
- The average time from transplant to skin malignancy was 6.1 years.
- Basal cell carcinoma (43%) was the most common type, followed by squamous cell carcinoma (39%).
Conclusions:
- Skin cancer risk is elevated in transplant recipients, with a reversed prevalence of basal cell over squamous cell carcinoma observed in this study.
- Low immunosuppressive drug regimens and close clinical follow-up may contribute to the low prevalence and absence of recurrence/metastasis.
- Routine dermatologic surveillance is crucial for early detection and management of skin cancer in transplant patients to reduce morbidity and mortality.
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