Retrospective study of the non-Melanocytic skin cancers in Imam Khomeini Hospital of Ahwaz, 1994-98

Background: Non-melanocytic skin cancers (NMSC) including basal cell carcinoma (BCC) and squamous cell carcinoma (SCC) are mostly induced by long life sun ultraviolet radiation (UVR). Although many etiological factors are known in skin cancer, the role of sunlight is the most prominent. Khuzestan is one of the southern provinces of Iran, which has sunny sky and long summer. So it is presumed that skin cancers are common in Khuzestan. Objective: To study non-melanocytic skin cancers in Ahwaz. Patients and Methods: In this retrospective study, pathological diagnosis of NMSC in an educational hospital of the province has been analyzed. Results: During years 1994-1998, total of 636 patients have been diagnosed, 40% female and 60% male. 83% of female patients had BCC and 17% had SCC. 71.5% of male patients had BCC and 26.5% had SCC. BCC to SCC ratio in male and female patients were 2.7 and 5 respectively, and 3.4 in whole. In both sexes the most common age of the diagnosis was the seventh decade. Most of the patients had outdoor occupations. Conclusion: The results of this study indicate that NMSC is more common in male who have outdoor occupations and proper education and protective measures for individuals at high risk must be considered.