Abstract
Four main factors are associated with the epidemiological profile of skin cancer in the tropics: more intense ultraviolet radiation, a higher proportion of dark-skinned inhabitants, low incomes in association with limited healthcare resources, and high biodiversity including oncogenic microbial pathogens. In fair-skinned populations, the incidence of three major UV-induced cancers – basal cell carcinoma, squamous cell carcinoma, and melanoma – increases with diminishing latitude. In people with dark skin, the incidence of all UV-induced skin cancer is considerably lower, and the main location of melanoma is the sole of the foot. The incidence of Kaposi sarcoma is very high in countries where HHV-8 and HIV exist simultaneously with high incidence rates. Limited healthcare resources and limited access to healthcare are frequent in the tropics. However, more than other cancer types, skin cancers can be diagnosed early by clinical examination and can in most cases be treated with surgery under local anesthesia.
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Couppié, P., Traoré, A. (2015). Cutaneous Cancers (Including Melanoma). In: Droz, JP., Carme, B., Couppié, P., Nacher, M., Thiéblemont, C. (eds) Tropical Hemato-Oncology. Springer, Cham. https://doi.org/10.1007/978-3-319-18257-5_42
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DOI: https://doi.org/10.1007/978-3-319-18257-5_42
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