Non-melanoma skin cancer and keratoacanthoma in Filipinos: an incidence report from Kauai, Hawaii.

BACKGROUND: Non-melanoma skin cancer is the most common malignancy in the white population of the United States with an estimated 700,000 new cases each year. Regrettably, data on minority racial groups are either scarce or lacking entirely.

METHODS: This study was designed as a 5-year prospective incidence study of non-melanoma skin cancer and keratoacanthoma by using an island-wide survey of Kauai's Filipino residents and covers the years of 1983 to 1987.

RESULTS: Seven basal cell carcinoma (incidence: 12.3/100,000), one squamous cell carcinoma (incidence: 1.8/100,000) and four keratoacanthoma (incidence: 7/100,000) patients are reported.

CONCLUSIONS: To the best of our knowledge, this is the first population-based incidence report on non-melanoma skin cancer and keratoacanthoma in this population.