FEMALES VASTLY OUTNUMBER MALES IN BASAL-CELL CARCINOMA OF THE UPPER LIP - A PECULIAR SUBSET OF HIGH-RISK YOUNG FEMALES IS DESCRIBED

BACKGROUND. It was noted that females, particularly young females, out numbered males with basal cell carcinoma (BCC) of the upper lip among patients treated by Mohs micrographic surgery in Vancouver, British Co lumbia. OBJECTIVE. To investigate female-to-male ratios for BCC of the upper lip at the Vancouver Mohs micrographic surgery service, and to compare this with data from the provincial-wide registry as well as wi th worldwide data in the literature. METHODS. The female-to-male ratio s by age group were determined for 136 upper lip lesions treated at th e Mohs service from 1983 to 1992. Similar data were obtained from 731 perioral BCCs recorded at the provincial-wide registry from 1982 to 19 89. The literature was reviewed for comparative data worldwide. RESULT S. At the Mohs service females outnumber males 3.5:1 for upper lip BCC s. Young females 30-39 years old outnumber males 16:1. Regional data f rom the British Columbia Cancer Registry confirm that females outnumbe r males 2:1 for the lip region (including upper lip, lower lip, nasola bial fold). This is significant when compared with all BCCs diagnosed in the province (ie, all sites), in which males outnumber females 1.3: 1. Data from the literature worldwide confirm this relationship. CONCL USION. BCC of the upper lip is a female-predominated disease. Young fe males are at a much higher risk for this disease than young males.