Current issue-Abstract 5

Introduction: The incidence of skin cancer is increasing at an alarming rate. Non melanoma skin cancer (NMSC) is the most common cancer affecting white individuals. Skin Cancer registration in Northern Africa is still limited and, until now, there have been no population-based data available for Libya. We perform the first epidemiological analysis of non melanoma skin cancer (NMSC) in Tripoli/ Libya during 5years period between 2006-2010.

Aim: To discuss current epidemiologic data concerning incidence and demographic variation. To compare our findings with those of published reports from other regions.

Material and Methods: All histopathologically proven cases of (NMSC) reported during the years 2006 through 2010 were retrieved and reviewed. 70% of the data were electronically stored. Information regarding tumor type, age, gender, and anatomical location were collected.

Results: A total of 579 cases of (NMSC) were diagnosed between the years 2006 and 2010. Basal cell carcinoma (BCC) was the commonest type, representing 76.9% of all skin cancers. Males were more frequently affected than female.

Conclusions: We concluded that (NMSC) in Tripoli/Libya is not uncommon problem. Ascertainment of NMSC should improve since the advent and use of electronic pathology data. Ongoing increases in age-adjusted incidence, combined with ageing of the population, will have major implications for the clinical workload associated with (NMSC) for the foreseeable future.