Skin tumours in organ transplant recipients—implications for the plastic surgeon

Squamous cell carcinoma of the skin (SCC) and basal cell carcinoma (BCC) are common entities, often with a benign course. Tumour biology, however, is different in immunosuppressed individuals, such as organ transplant recipients (OTR). As immunosuppression-sparing protocols have not yet been successfully introduced to the clinics, nonmelanoma skin cancers (NMSCs) will continue to affect a majority of OTR, leading to significant morbidity and mortality. Interdisciplinary treatment including the transplant physician, dermatologist and the plastic surgeon is warranted for optimal patient management. This review focuses on special tumour characteristics and therapeutic requirements among OTR. Recommendations for local treatment and oncoplastic surgery are discussed.