Basal cell carcinoma in outdoor versus indoor workers in Turkey

Abstract

Background Basal cell carcinoma remains a significant health problem, and is most common in people of Caucasian origin with significant sun exposure. This study investigated differences between two groups of Turkish patients with basal cell carcinoma: indoor workers versus outdoor workers.

Methods One hundred and twenty-one patients with primary basal cell carcinoma were categorized as outdoor (Group OW) or indoor workers (Group IW), according to sun exposure at work. Findings for age, sex, skin type, tumor location, and histologic subtype/aggression were compared.

Results The mean age of Group IW was lower than that of Group OW (57.3 +/- 9.2 vs. 65.8 +/- 12.2 years, respectively). Group OW comprised more men than women (63.4% vs. 36.6%, respectively), whereas women predominated in Group IW (62% vs. 38%, respectively). The facial cheek was a more frequent tumor site in Group IW than in Group OW (20% vs. 7.0%, respectively). There were no statistical differences with respect to skin types or histological subtypes; however, Group OW had a higher proportion of aggressive subtypes than Group IW (25.4% vs. 10%, respectively).

Conclusions The results in the Turkish population of the study suggest that basal cell carcinoma may develop in indoor workers (intermittent sun exposure) earlier than in outdoor workers with chronic sun-exposure, but more aggressive subtypes are more likely to be linked with chronic sun-exposure.