Call to Action: Skin Cancer Surveillance in Patients With Organ Transplants
Posted: Monday, July 13, 2020
According to the American Dermatological Association, patients undergoing organ transplants are immunocompromised and are at higher risk of death or postoperative complications if diagnosed with skin cancer. Recipients of solid organ transplant also show a 10-fold increase in risk for basal cell carcinoma and a 60-fold to 100-fold risk for squamous cell carcinoma compared with people with healthy immune systems. In addition, the risk for melanoma is 3.5 times higher than in immunocompetent patients.
The number of organ transplants rose by 40,000 in 2019, which is a 9% increase from 2018. With the number of transplants expected to increase in 2020, the American Dermatological Association endorses the following steps:
- Routine skin cancer screening and surveillance after solid organ transplantation reduce the risk of skin cancer mortality and morbidity. The frequency of skin cancer screenings depends on several factors, including skin type, history of skin cancer, and the presence of precancerous lesions.
- An ultraviolet-protection strategy is recommended to limit the amount of sun exposure for patients with solid organ transplants. This approach includes applying sunscreen and administering patient education courses on proper sun avoidance and protective clothing for vulnerable areas.
- Collaboration between dermatologists and transplant physicians is encouraged to ensure frequent, full-body skin examinations by dermatologists, preferably in specialty clinics for high-risk patients both before and after transplantation.
