Factors associated with nonmelanoma skin cancer following renal transplantation in Queensland, Australia.

BACKGROUND

Caucasian renal transplant recipients living in Queensland, Australia, have the highest risk of nonmelanoma skin cancer in the world.

OBJECTIVE

To determine clinical and environmental factors associated with posttransplantation nonmelanoma skin cancer in Queensland.

METHODS

361 Caucasian adult recipients completed a structured interview and full skin examination. Skin cancer details were obtained from hospital records.

RESULTS

Squamous cell carcinoma was strongly associated with blue or hazel eyes, time resident in a hot climate, and pretransplantation squamous cell carcinoma; tumor numbers were associated with birth in a hot climate, childhood sunburn, pretransplantation actinic keratoses, and smoking. The risk of basal cell carcinoma was strongly associated with acute or intermittent sun exposure during childhood and pretransplantation basal cell carcinoma; numbers were associated with blue or hazel eyes, time spent living in a hot climate, and male gender.

CONCLUSIONS

Clinical and environmental factors can be used to identify recipients at risk of nonmelanoma skin cancer in Queensland.