NONMELANOMA SKIN CARCINOMA IN ALBUQUERQUE, NEW-MEXICO - EXPERIENCE OFA MAJOR HEALTH-CARE PROVIDER

BACKGROUND. Although nonmelanoma skin carcinomas (NMSC) are increasing nationwide, rates are difficult to measure precisely, because few reg istries include types of carcinoma. Albuquerque, New Mexico is a high risk site for both melanoma and NMSC. In a National Cancer Institute ( NCI) survey conducted between 1977 and 1978, NMSC incidence rates amon g non-Hispanic white males were the highest of 8 national study sites. METHODS. Experience with NMSC over 28.5 years at the Lovelace Health Systems in Albuquerque, New Mexico is described. The impact of multipl e tumors was emphasized, recent annual incidence rates in members of t he Lovelace Health Plan (LHP) were calculated, and trends in incidence rates since the NCI survey were estimated. RESULTS. There were 10,760 tumors among 4958 people between 1964 and mid-1992, with an average o f 2.2 lesions per person (range: 1-92 lesions). Basal cell carcinoma ( BCC) was 6.6 times more common than squamous cell carcinoma (SCC), and more likely to be multiple. There was an excess of males among person s with each tumor type and among subjects with multiple tumors. Only 4 6.1% of NMSC were first tumors; multiple or subsequent tumors comprise d 53.7%. More than half of the concomitant or subsequent tumors were d iagnosed within 1 year of the first, but new tumors were still appeari ng in the same subjects more than 10 years later. The incidence of NMS C between 1989 and 1991 among LHP members increased with age, and rate s were higher for non-Hispanic males than females. Hispanics had much lower rates than non-Hispanic whites (NHW), with no sex differential. Incidence rates of BCC have increased markedly since 1977 and 1978 in NHW males, and to a lesser extent in other groups. Rates of SCC have n ot changed. The ratio of NMSC to other carcinomas at Lovelace has doub led over the same interval and has increased 10-fold over the last 2 d ecades. CONCLUSIONS. These data confirm the marked effect of age, ethn icity, and sex on NMSC rates. Differences in trends in BCC and SCC hig hlight their somewhat different etiologies. The increasing rate of BCC since the late 1970s and the large numbers of multiple tumors make a powerful case for intensified efforts at both primary and secondary pr evention. (C) 1996 American Cancer Society.