LB748 An epidemiological study on Cutaneous Melanoma, Basal Cell and Epidermoid Carcinomas diagnosed in a sunny city in southeast Brazil in a five-year period

Abstract

Skin cancer is increasing worldwide; in tropical places the population is exposed to high levels of solar radiation, raising the risk for developing cutaneous carcinoma. Aimed at encouraging prevention measures and the early diagnosis of these tumors, this study analyzed data on cutaneous melanomas, basal cell and epidermoid carcinomas, using as source the medical records of all patients diagnosed with skin cancer in a pathology service in a Brazilian city from 2015 to 2019. The incidence of skin cancer cases was correlated with the histological type, sex, age, and location. Significant association was observed between age and type of cancer (p=0.0085); age and sex (p=0.0298); and type of cancer and body region affected (p<0.01). Those 161 cases analyzed comprised 93 basal cell, 66 epidermoid carcinomas, and only 2 melanomas. In the group aged 19 to 30 years, the epidermoid form was most prevalent; from 31 to 59 years, the basal cell prevailed; in 60-year-olds or over, both types had higher frequencies. Associating age and sex, in groups aged 19 to 30 women were most affected. There was a gender balance in the age group 60-year-olds or over. As for topography, there was a high prevalence in the head and neck, followed by upper limbs. Relating histological type and topography, there was a prevalence of basal cell carcinomas in head/neck and chest. In upper limbs, the epidermoid form prevailed. About 82% of patients 60-year-olds or over had head and neck skin carcinoma. In conclusion, young people were more affected by the epidermoid form, which manifested itself significantly in the upper limbs, presenting a behavior of this histological type. Patients aged 60 years or older were the most affected; in gender balance, they present intense head and neck involvement, while areas such as chest and lower limbs are little affected, revealing that body areas continuously exposed to solar radiation are more predisposed to the development of skin cancer.