The epidemiology of malignant melanoma, squamous cell carcinoma and basal cell carcinoma in the UK from 2004 to 2014: a population-based cohort analysis using the Clinical Practice Research Datalink.

Abstract

Skin cancers, including malignant melanoma and keratinocyte skin cancers, are the most common malignancy in the United Kingdom (UK), and global incidence is increasing rapidly1. While malignant melanoma (MM) accounts for most skin cancer deaths, keratinocyte skin cancers, squamous cell carcinoma (SCC) and basal cell carcinoma (BCC), comprise up to 95% of skin cancer cases in the UK2,3. Studies on trends in MM incidence and survival have been conducted using Scottish, Northern Irish, and English and Welsh data4. Data for keratinocyte skin cancers has historically been unreliable and under-reported due to the United Kingdom and Ireland Association of Cancer Registries rule to only report the first SCC or BCC per patient when a substantial proportion of patients develop multiple tumours. For the few studies on SCC and/or BCC, trends are geographically limited in scope to a particular region or, when considering the whole of the UK, report trends from a limited time period5,6. In 2013, changes in England’s national cancer registry resulted in nationalized and automated SCC and BCC registration. While this has improved reporting of keratinocyte skin cancer incidence in England and will allow tracking and analysis of future trends, knowledge of epidemiologic trends in SCC and BCC before this time, and reporting for the rest of the UK, remain inconsistent.