Epidemiological Study of Basal Cell Carcinoma in Head and Neck in Kurdistan Province

Basal cell carcinoma (BCC) is the most common malignant tumor in human. Nonmelanotic skin cancers make a major health problem through the world. This study was designed to investigate the epidemiology of BCC in Kurdistan province from 1998 to 1999. The population under study in this descriptive research included patients with BCC who was diagnosed between 1998 to 1999. Data was collected by interviewing the patients or from their files and was analyzed by descriptive statistical methods. Of 117 diagnosed BCC cases 60 cases (51.3%) were male. The incidence rate of BCC was 9 per one hundred thousand. 63% of cases were urbanite and the rest was rural. Only 3 cases had a positive history of BCC in their first family. 17 cases had experienced the tumor recurrence in the same area. Anatomically, nose was involved in 76 cases (65.8%). Mean age of the patients was 59.6 (SD=14.6) and the most of BCC cases were belong to 60-69 years old age group. This study showed that neck and head BCC is a major health problem in the province. With respect to the age of the patients we suggest periodical study to reveal the risk factors of the disease in the province.