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Background: Skin cancer is the most frequent cancer related to ultraviolet radiation. The aim was to estimate the incidence of skin cancer type, melanoma and non-melanoma in Zacatecas, Mexico. Methods: An epidemiological study was carried out during the period from 2008 to 2012. The data were obtained from the Instituto Mexicano del Seguro Social (IMSS), Instituto de Seguridad y Servicios Sociales de los Trabajadores del Estado (ISSSTE), Secretaría de Salud de Zacatecas (SSZ) and a private source, the Centro Médico Alameda. The incidence and the global prevalence were estimated. Results: We studied 958 skin cancer cases, histopathologically confirmed. The cases were distributed as: 63.6 % basal cell carcinomas, 25.8 % squamous cell carcinomas, and 10.6 % melanoma. Significantly higher proportions were observed in women in the basal cell carcinomas (60.4 %) and squamous cell carcinomas (53.4 %). However, in the case of melanoma, the major proportion was observed in men (55.9 %). The more frequent skin cancer location was the face and for basal cell carcinoma was the nose (53 %); for squamous cell carcinomas were the lips (36 %), and for melanoma it was also the nose (40 %). The skin cancer incidence was estimated in 20 cases for each 100 000 inhabitants. Linear regression analysis showed that the skin cancer is increasing at an annual rate of 10.5 %. Conclusions: The anatomical location indicates that solar UV radiation is a risk factor, since the face is the zone with major exposure to solar radiation. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Background: Merkel cell carcinoma is a rare tumor that occurs on areas exposed to ultraviolet light. It is usually asymptomatic and It is diagnosed late often. The treatment is surgical, associated with adjuvant radiotherapy. The objective was to present the experience in the management of Merkel cell carcinoma in a reference medical center. Methods: all patients with Merkel cell carcinoma treated at the Instituto de Investigaciones Médico-Biológicas of the Universidad Veracruzana during the period 2008 to 2011 were studied. Sex, age, evolution time, tumor localization, size, metastases and treatment were analyzed. Results: of 3217 patients treated, three cases were Merkel cell carcinoma (0.09 %), their age was 52.1 ± 14.17, male predominance of 66.67 %; the evolution time was of 29.66 ± 35.36 months; the tumour localization was on inguinal region, anterior chest and left arm; the noodle size was of 6.0 ± 5.19 cm; two patients had lymph node metastases. In two cases, resection and lymphadenectomy were performed. They all received radiation therapy and chemotherapy In one case. Histologically the medium variant predominated; immunohistochemlstry was positive In the three cases. One patient died ten months after the study was done. Conclusions: our experience is similar with others authors, Merkel cell carcinoma is a rare tumor, usually diagnosed late, and It has poor survival. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Background: skin cancer is the most frequent malign tumor in the world; the prevalence has been increasing in the last years. There is a sub-register of cases due the majority of them are not cause of death. According to the Histopathological Register of Malign Neoplasm from 2004, the skin cancer occupied the third place of incidence, just preceded by cervical and lung cancer. The aim was to determine the prevalence of skin cancer no melanoma type (epidermoid carcinoma and basal cell carcinoma) and malign melanoma in three Mexican cities. Methods: an observational, non-intervention epidemiological study based on open screening population was performed. Results: eight cases of skin cancer were detected in 443 subjects examined, seven were females. There were six corresponding to basal cellular cancer and two to malign melanoma; there were three subjects with skin phototype II, two with phototype III and three with phototype IV; 75 % of the patients with diagnosis of skin cancer do not presented previous premalignant lesions. Conclusions: However, the presence of cancer in suspicious lesions, was significance with an increasing risk of 3.4 times. A limitation of the study was the size of the sample and the heterogeneous population. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Sunlight includes infrared light photons, visible light and ultraviolet light (U VL) photons. U VL is the main cause of skin cancer and photo-aging. It is absorbed by chromophores in the skin, such as melanin, DNA, RNA, proteins, lipids and aromatic aminoacids. The absorption of UVL results in photochemical reactions involving reactive oxygen species (ROS) with the consequent damages to the skin. UVL, through different photochemical modifications forming cyclobutane dimmers, produce mutations to cells phenomenon called neoplasic transformation. The protection of the skin against sunlight is the main action to prevent skin cancer and photo-aging. Photo-protection is an effective method for preventing skin damage and its consequences. The objective of this consensus was to discuss and propose a Statement Position Paper on photo-protection and useful measures for their application by the dermatologist and general practitioner in Mexican population. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Melanoma is the result of the malignant transformation of normal melanocytes of the skin, which are responsible for the synthesis of melamine. It occupies the third place in frequency of skin cancer. Its incidence shows an annual increment of 3 to 7 % which varies in different populations. In our country the mortality is higher than the incidence due to the delayed diagnosis. We are reporting a case of a patient with fair skin who developed blue metastases which were indistinguishable from the characteristic pattern of blue nevi. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]