[Non-melanoma skin cancer: incidence time trends analysis in Girona, Spain, 1994-2007].

BACKGROUND AND OBJECTIVE: We aimed to assess the population-based incidence trends of non-melanoma skin cancer (NMSC): squamous cell carcinoma (SCC) and basal cell carcinoma (BCC).

PATIENTS AND METHOD: From January 1994 to December 2007, 9,247 patients diagnosed with NMSC were recruited in the population-based Cancer Registry of Girona. Incidence rates were calculated with age-adjusted according to the Word standard population (WASR) by a direct method and reported as number of new cases per 100,000 person-year. To evaluate incidence trends by age group we used specific rates for these groups (45-64, > 64 years). We excluded patients younger than 45 years. Joinpoint method was used to estimate the average annual percentage change (AAPC) for the whole study period according to histologic and age groups.

RESULTS: Age-adjusted incidence was 55.74 per 10(5) person-year; it was higher in males (67.13) than in females (46.9). Age-adjusted incidence for BCC was higher compared with the incidence for SCC (44.56 and 11.18 respectively). Age-adjusted incidence rate for NMSC for both sexes increased from 48.53 (1994-95) to 60.54 (2004-05) with an AAPC of 2.30%, which was higher in females (2.65%) than in males (1.99%).

CONCLUSIONS: There has been a significant increase in the incidence of NMSC in our area, particularly evident for SCC, and it is more important in patients older than 64 years and in females.