Cutaneous cancers in the Mosan region and Ardennes of Belgium.

BACKGROUND

The ratios of basal cell carcinomas (BBC) to squamous cell carcinomas (SCC) and to malignant melanomas (MM) have changed over time in the white population throughout the world.

OBJECTIVE

To evaluate the incidence of skin cancers in the Mosan region and the Belgian Ardennes over the past 6 years.

RESULTS

In contrast with epidemiological data reported by the Belgian National Cancer Registry, cutaneous cancers are the commonest malignancies occurring in humans. At the present time, the ratio BCC:SCC roughly equals 4 to 1. When combined, the incidence of BCC and SCC is about 10 times greater than that of MM.

CONCLUSION

The rate of detection of skin cancers does not always correlate with the rate of notification of a national registry.