Basal cell carcinoma in patients referred to Imam Khomeini Hospital in Ahwaz in 1366-76

Background: Basal cell carcinoma (BCC) is the most common skin cancer in humans showing various clinical and histological forms. Objective: The aim of this study was to evaluate the age, sex, location, histological subtypes of BCC cases in Ahwaz and to compare it with other skin cancers specially squamous cell carcinoma. Patients and Methods: A descriptive, retrospective study was done using files of Pathology Department of Imam Khomeini Hospital in Ahwaz. All files from 1366 to 1376 were searched and the files of patients with skin cancers were evaluated. Results: 1271 of about 70000 specimens were diagnosed as skin cancer. 896 of them (70.50%) were BCC. The incidence of BCC was equal in women and men. The mean age was 60 years. An interesting finding was the difference in the mean age of patients in the first 2 years (57.58 years) and last 2 years of study (63.27 years). Eighty percent of patients were in the age range of 40-80 years. The most frequent locations of the lesions were nose, cheeks, forehead and eyelids. The incidence of SCC (294 cases) was almost 1/3 of BCC. Conclusion: The most common skin cancer in Ahwaz is BCC. The frequency is equal in both sexes. The mean age is 60 years and is increasing with time.