Archive

Winter 1999, Vol. 7 No. 4

H.K. Dermatol. Venereol. Bull. (1999) 7, 162-169

Original Article

Nonmelanoma Skin Cancer: A Five-year Retrospective Study in Social Hygiene Service of Hong Kong

SY Cheng

Abstract
Nonmelanoma skin cancer, including basal cell carcinoma and squamous cell carcinoma, is the commonest skin cancer in Caucasians. Its incidence is rising, due to increased ultraviolet exposure as a result of a change in lifestyle and holiday habit. The characteristics of nonmelanoma skin cancer among Caucasians, including the demographic data, predilection sites, natural history of the disease, morbidity and mortality, are well documented. However, the details of the disease in local Chinese are not well established. This is the first survey to look at the demographic data and clinical characteristics of nonmelanoma skin cancer in patients, who are mostly Chinese, attending the dermatology clinics of Social Hygiene Service in Hong Kong.