NONMELANOMA CANCERS OF THE SKIN

BASAL-CELL and squamous-cell cancers of the skin are the most frequent malignant conditions in the white population. About 600,000 new cases are detected each year in the United States.1 Fortunately, only a small proportion lead to death. Nonmelanoma cancers are associated with substantial morbidity, including loss of function and disfigurement, and their treatment is costly. Early detection can reduce morbidity and cost. We will review the epidemiology, recognition, treatment, and prevention of basal-cell and squamous-cell carcinomas, which together account for most nonmelanoma skin cancers (we exclude tumors of the mucous membranes). We shall emphasize risk factors for the development of… © 1992, Massachusetts Medical Society. All rights reserved.