NONMELANOMA SKIN-CANCER IN AN IRISH POPULATION - AN APPRAISAL OF RISK-FACTORS

Previous Irish studies have shown a high prevalence of nonmelanoma ski n cancer (NMSC). However, unlike elsewhere where the generally quoted ratio of basal cell carcinoma (SCC):squamous cell carcinoma (SCC) is a t least 4:1 the ratio in Ireland was found to be 1:1. We examined this ratio in patients attending the dermatology outpatients and determine d risk factors for the development of NMSC within an Irish population where 75% of the population have: been shown to have skin type 1 or 11 . The study consisted of a retrospective 10 year review of biopsy prov en eases of NMSC and a prospective case control study of NMSC which al lowed examination of risk factors and comparison to a control group. T he BCC:SCC ratio in the retrospective Study was 3:1. In the prospectiv e study the ratio of BCC:SCC was 4:4:1. Skin type 1 and numerous freck les were identified as risk factors in the NMSC group.