Clinical and Pathological Characteristics of Skin Cancer Patients at Southern Medical University, Guangzhou, China

The incidence of skin cancer is increasing in China, yet large-scale clinical and pathological data from China remain scarce. A retrospective analysis was conducted of 648 histopathologically confirmed skin cancer cases diagnosed at the Dermatology Hospital, Southern Medical University from January 2020 to July 2023. Patient demographics, tumour distribution, histological subtypes, and treatment approaches were evaluated. Squamous cell carcinoma (31.9%) and basal cell carcinoma (31.2%) were the most prevalent, followed by cutaneous lymphomas (13.9%), dendritic cell and histiocytic neoplasms (13.3%), and melanoma (9.7%). Over half of the patients (53.5%) were aged ≥ 60 years. basal cell carcinoma and squamous cell carcinoma primarily involved the head and neck, while acral sites were dominant in melanoma (79.4%). Most cases of both basal cell carcinoma and squamous cell carcinoma were managed surgically, with surgical treatment performed in 95.5% of basal cell carcinomas and 94.2% of squamous cell carcinomas. Skin cancers in China predominantly affect older adults and commonly involve sun-exposed areas. Basal cell carcinoma is typically managed surgically due to its low-risk nature, while squamous cell carcinoma demonstrates clinical heterogeneity, warranting varied treatment strategies. The higher proportion of cutaneous lymphomas among younger patients highlights the need for age-specific diagnostic and therapeutic considerations.