Risk of melanoma following keratinocyte malignancies

Source: MDLinx, April 2020

Researchers intended to well-characterize patients at increased risk for melanoma following keratinocyte cancer, using a population-based cohort comprising 2,243 individuals with histologically-verified KC, selected from dermatology and pathology practices, and without a history of internal malignancy (1,363 BCC, 880 SCC). By employing adjusted Cox proportionate hazards models, experts identified two-fold raised risk for melanoma development after KC in older patients (age 61 or older vs 60 or younger), and a reduced risk was evident in women vs men. A greater risk for subsequent melanoma was observed in those with tumors on the trunk/limbs vs the head/neck in a sample of patients with BCC. Established risk factors, such as blond/red vs dark hair, tendency to burn rather than tan, ≥1 nevi on their back vs no nevi, and a history of >1 painful childhood sunburns vs none, were found to be associated with subsequent risk of melanoma. Overall, findings are suggestive of the likely usefulness of ultraviolet radiation-related factors, and clinical characteristics of KC such as anatomic site, in addition to pigmentary traits, in identifying patients at increased risk for melanoma post-KC.

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