A Clinical Study of Cutaneous Malignant Tumors in Daegu City and Kyungpook Province for the Recent 20 Years: Comparison of the First (1994~2003) and Second Decade (2004~2013)

Lee, Kyouchae; Kim, Min Ji; Chae, Soo Yuhl; Cha, Hyun Wuk; Jang, Yong Hyun; Lee, Weon Ju; Kim, Do Won; Lee, Seok Jong

Abstract

BACKGROUND
Although skin cancer incidence has recently increased, there has been little research into the incidence, clinical manifestations, and prognosis of skin cancers in Korea, especially in Daegu City and the Kyungpook Province.
OBJECTIVE
To analyze changes over the recent two decades in incidence and clinical patterns, including recurrence of skin cancers diagnosed at a university hospital in Daegu City.
METHODS
We reviewed 1,566 skin cancer cases from 1994 to 2013 at the Department of Dermatology in Kyungpook National University Hospital (KNUH). We also divided them into first (1994~2003) and second group (2004~2013) to examine changes over the years.
RESULTS
The average incidence of skin cancers among the total number of outpatients was 1.39% through whole study period including 0.38% in the first and 2.10% in the second decade. Basal cell carcinoma (BCC) was the most commonly diagnosed skin cancer (total:1st:2nd=0.60%:0.16%:0.91%), followed by squamous cell carcinoma (SCC) (0.43%:0.12%:0.65%) and malignant melanoma (MM) (0.22%:0.05%:0.34%). The most common skin cancer site was the face in each decade. The recurrence of three major skin cancers (BCC, SCC and MM) was diagnosed in 49 of the 1,402 patients (3.50%). In each disease, the recurrence rate (1st:2nd) was 1.64% (BCC, 4.11%:1.34%), 3.51% (SCC, 11.11%:2.55%), and 8.57% (MM, 4.35%:9.01%).
CONCLUSION
This epidemiological study provided useful information about the incidence and prognosis of skin tumors in Korea, especially in Daegu City and Kyungpook Province.