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Postoperative Inflammatory Complications Do Not Increase the Risk of Subsequent Primary Skin Cancer

Madelyn Schmidt1, Travis S Dowdle2, Richard F Wagner2

  • 1School of Medicine, University of Texas Medical Branch, Galveston, TX.

Advances in Skin & Wound Care
|June 23, 2026
PubMed
Abstract

Insights

Postoperative inflammatory complications (IC) after skin cancer surgery do not increase the risk of developing new nonmelanoma skin cancers (NMSC). While a slight increase in squamous cell carcinoma risk was observed, it was not clinically significant and did not exceed benchmarks.

Area of Science:

  • Dermatology
  • Oncology
  • Surgical Pathology

Background:

  • Subsequent nonmelanoma skin cancer (NMSC) can develop at new sites after initial treatment.
  • The impact of postoperative inflammatory complications (IC) on this subsequent risk is not well understood, particularly after Mohs micrographic surgery (MMS) or excisions.

Purpose of the Study:

  • To evaluate the 3-year risk of subsequent NMSC in patients who experienced postoperative IC.
  • To determine if IC influences the development of new basal cell carcinoma (BCC) or squamous cell carcinoma (SCC/SCCIS).

Main Methods:

  • Utilized the TriNetX Research Network to identify patients with IC within one month of MMS or excision for BCC, SCC, or SCCIS.
  • Calculated hazard ratios (HRs) and absolute risk differences (ARDs) for subsequent NMSC.
  • Compared calculated risks against established 3-year benchmarks (44% for BCC, 18% for SCC/SCCIS).

Main Results:

  • A statistically significant but not clinically significant increase in SCC/SCCIS risk was observed in patients with IC (HR: 1.08, ARD: 2.43%).
  • This observed risk for SCC/SCCIS did not surpass the 18% benchmark.
  • Interestingly, IC appeared protective against BCC development (HR: 0.93, ARD: -1.68%).

Conclusions:

  • Postoperative inflammatory complications do not appear to elevate the 3-year risk of developing subsequent NMSC.
  • The findings suggest that ICs may not be a significant risk factor for future NMSC development.
Keywords:
Mohs micrographic surgerybasal cell carcinomaexcisionsinflammatory complicationsnonmelanoma skin cancersquamous cell carcinoma

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