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Deaths from non-melanoma skin cancer in Western Australia

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Abstract

Objectives

Non-melanoma skin cancer (NMSC) is common, slow growing, and rarely metastasizes. However, there are still nearly 400 deaths from NMSC in Australia annually. We aimed to investigate the accuracy of NMSC death coding and to describe the characteristics of these deaths and the potential for prevention.

Methods

Histology reports for all deaths coded as NMSC (ICD-10 C44.0-C44.9) by the Western Australian Cancer Registry for the years 1996–2005 were reviewed for type of cancer, body site (primary tumor and metastases), and level of available documentation.

Results

Of 368 deaths recorded as being due to NMSC only 3 were found to be miscoded. An additional 53 deaths contained inadequate information to confirm NMSC as the cause of death. Of the confirmed cases, 219 were due to squamous cell carcinoma, 53 to Merkel cell carcinomas, and 40 to other skin cancers. Cases were mainly males and were elderly. Most of the primary squamous and Merkel cell carcinomas were in areas of maximum sun exposure (face, ears, and hands, and scalp in males).

Conclusions

Misclassification of NMSC deaths in WA was minimal. The majority of NMSC deaths were due to squamous cell carcinomas; had primary sites associated with significant sun exposure; and occurred in older men.

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Acknowledgments

Lin Fritschi is supported by an Australian National Health and Medical Research Council Fellowship. We would like to thank the staff of the Western Australian Cancer Registry for considerable assistance in the identification and classification of cases.

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Authors and Affiliations

  1. Western Australian Institute for Medical Research, B Block, Ground Floor, Hospital Ave., Nedlands, WA, 6009, Australia

    J. Girschik & Lin Fritschi

  2. Department of Health, Western Australian Cancer Registry, 1st Floor, C Block, 189 Royal St, East Perth, WA, 6004, Australia

    T. Threlfall

  3. The Cancer Council of Western Australia, 46 Ventor Ave., West Perth, WA, 6005, Australia

    T. Slevin

  4. Centre for Behavioural Research in Cancer Control, Curtin University of Technology, GPO Box U1987, Perth, WA, 6845, Australia

    T. Slevin

Authors
  1. J. Girschik
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  2. Lin Fritschi
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  3. T. Threlfall
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  4. T. Slevin
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Correspondence to Lin Fritschi.

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Girschik, J., Fritschi, L., Threlfall, T. et al. Deaths from non-melanoma skin cancer in Western Australia. Cancer Causes Control 19, 879–885 (2008). https://doi.org/10.1007/s10552-008-9150-9

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  • DOI: https://doi.org/10.1007/s10552-008-9150-9

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