Risk of basal cell and squamous cell carcinoma in persons with prior cutaneous melanoma

BACKGROUND. Melanoma has been associated with an overall increase in actini c tumors, including actinic keratoses, as well as with noncutaneous maligna ncies. OBJECTIVE. Determine the risk of developing basal cell and squamous cell sk ill cancer in patients with prior cutaneous melanoma (actinic keratoses not encountered). METHODS. This retrospective study included 1396 white patients with prior c utaneous melanoma followed at the Roswell Park Cancer Institute in the peri od 1977-1978. The control group was the white population of the Detroit are a in the same period (1977-1978). RESULTS. A total of 25 patients (18 males, 7 females) developed 35 basal ce ll and/or squamous cell carcinomas: 18 developed basal cell carcinomas, 2 s quamous cell carcinomas, and 5 both. The calculated odds ratio was 3.49 (ma les 3.67, females 2.86, 95% confidence interval 1.52-8.00). No correlations were found with age, type, anatomic site, and length of follow-up of cutan eous melanoma. CONCLUSION. A history of cutaneous melanoma significantly increases the ris k of basal cell and squamous cell skin cancer.