Location of nonmelanoma skin cancers in patients after kidney transplantation.

INTRODUCTION

Long -term use of immunosuppressant therapy makes kidney transplant recipients particularly susceptible to infections and skin cancers.

OBJECTIVES

The aim of the study was to evaluate the type and location of nonmelanoma skin cancers (NMSCs) in patients after kidney transplantation.

PATIENTS AND

METHODS

The study included 486 patients (296 men and 190 women; mean age, 46.1 ±13.1 years) after deceased -donor kidney transplantation, most of whom received triple immunosuppressive therapy. Patients underwent skin examination. All suspicious lesions were thoroughly described in terms of their type, size, and location. Only patients with histologically confirmed malignancy were included in the study.

RESULTS

Of all 486 patients, 25 were diagnosed with 53 NMSCs, including 39 basal cell carcinomas, 13 squamous cell carcinomas, and 1 case of Bowen's disease. The lesions were observed on the face (n = 34), upper limb (n = 8), neck (n = 6), and trunk (n = 5).

CONCLUSIONS

Most NMSCs were located on the sun -exposed areas, emphasizing the effect of ultraviolet radiation on the pathogenesis of skin cancers. The presence of lesions on the skin that had not been exposed to the sun indicates that a physical examination of the entire skin is necessary.