The most common skin cancers and the risk factors in geriatric patients: A hospital based-controlled study

Abstract

Our aim was to detect the distribution of all malign skin tumors in geriatric patients,and evaluate risk factors comparing with health volunters. Two hundred patients with malignant skin tumors over 65 years old and 75 healty volunters were enrolled into the study. Sociodemographic characteristics, hair colour, eye colour, Fitzpatrick’s skin type, the degree of photoaging by using Glogau’s Photodamage Classification Scale, sunbathing habits, the use of sun protective clothings, sunscreen cream usage, working outdoor, vitamine intake habit, smoking, and alcohol consumption, family history of skin tumor, accompanying systemic diseases, exposition to chemicals and tumors localization were recorded. Tumors’ localizations were detected. A total of 109 (54.5%) of patients were male, 91 were (45.5%) female and the mean age of patients was 72.97±6.73 in the study group. A total of 209 skin tumors identified in 200 patients. Basal cell carcinoma (BCC) was the most common skin tumor (n=153, 72.85%) and followed by squamous cell carcinoma (SCC) (n=36, 17.28%) and malignant melanoma (n=10, 4.7%). The most common localization of tumors was the face (n=159, 75.71%). There were significant differences regarding sun protective clothing habits between BCC and SCC patients when compared to the control group (p<0.05). Glagou’s Photodamage Classification Scale scores in BCC and SCC groups were higher than the control group (p<0,05). UV radiation and sun exposure seemed to be the main risk factors of skin tumors in geriatric patients.