Multiple nonmelanoma skin cancer in an exposed Australian population

Background Patients with nonmelanoma skin cancer (NMSC) frequently develop multiple skin cancers. The study presents incidence rates and rates of excision of NMSC for a population living in a high-risk environment for skin cancer. Methods Between 1997 and 1999 a prospective population-based study collected information on all histologically confirmed NMSCs in Townsville, Australia. Results Of the 6708 patients recorded with NMSC, 38.5% had multiple lesions. Yearly age-standardized incidence rates (per 100,000 inhabitants) of basal cell carcinoma (BCC) were 1444.8 for men, 942.7 for women, and of squamous cell carcinoma (SCC) were 805.0 for men, and 423.6 for women. Compared to incidence rates, age-standardized rates of lesions of BCC were 2.1 times higher in men, 1.6 times higher in women, and of SCC were 1.8 times higher in men and 1.4 times higher in women. Conclusions The occurrence of multiple NMSCs compromises results of short-term studies on incidence. Further discussions on the most appropriate strategies to describe the real burden of NMSC are warranted.