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Soo Park, MD
Soo Park, MD
Posted: Wednesday, April 24, 2024
A group of researchers studied trends in non-melanoma skin cancer between male and female patients as well as the location of such skin cancers. Steven LoBello, PhD, of Auburn University at Montgomery, Alabama, and colleagues found gender-based differences in both the prevalence and location of this type of skin cancer. They presented their findings at the 2024 American Academy of Dermatology Association (AAD) Annual Meeting (Poster 50009). The investigators
“It has been documented that men are at a higher risk of skin cancer in general. Differences in gender and risk of non-melanoma skin cancer are important to note to counsel patients for risk as well as to attempt to combat skin cancer before it arises,” the researchers noted.
The researchers reviewed excisions and destructions of biopsy-proven non-melanoma skin cancer, focusing on eight locations: face, arm, neck, trunk, leg, hand, ear, and scalp. The study analyzed 9,503 non-melanoma skin cancer cases, with 38.4% female and 61.6% male patients. Non-melanoma skin cancer was found more often on the face, neck, hands, ears, and scalp in male patients and on the arms, trunk, legs, and feet in female patients. Approximately 48.3% of the cases presented on the left side of the body, and 43.4% presented on the right side.
The data confirm the researchers’ theory that men have a higher prevalence of non-melanoma skin cancer and showed that women were more likely to have non-melanoma skin cancer on the lower extremities. The researchers believe this phenomenon may be attributable to higher sunscreen use in women. This study calls into question the historic trend that non-melanoma skin cancer is found predominantly on the left side, as previous studies have shown. This study shows very little difference in laterality, but continued observance is required to minimize these discrepancies.
Disclosure: The study authors reported no conflicts of interest.
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