Trends in incidence of primary cutaneous malignancies in children, adolescents, and young adults: a population-based study.

BACKGROUND

Skin cancer incidence among young adults is rising; however, the epidemiological characteristics of primary cutaneous lymphomas and cutaneous soft tissue sarcomas (CSTS) in individuals <30 years old has not been investigated. We analyzed the incidence and time-trends of primary cutaneous malignancies in children and adolescents/young adults (AYA).

PROCEDURE

SEER-17 and -13 data were used to assess the descriptive epidemiology and time-trends in incidence of primary cutaneous malignancies in children and AYA. SEERStat and Joinpoint softwares were utilized to estimate annual percent changes (APC) in incidence.

RESULTS

In total, 7,814 cases (ASR = 25.66/1,000,000 habitants) of primary skin cancers in <30 years old were diagnosed in 2000-2008. Females had a higher incidence of melanoma (risk ratio (RR) = 1.95; P < 0.001) and a lower risk of developing CSTS (RR = 0.64, P < 0.001). Compared to whites, blacks have a lower incidence of melanoma (RR = 0.03, P < 0.001), and higher risk of CSTS (RR = 2.28, P < 0.001). Melanoma increased in females over a 15-year period (1992-2006) (APC = 2.5, 95%CI = 1.8; 3.2), and the incidence of cutaneous T-cell lymphomas increased over the period 1992-2008 (APC = 9.5, 95% CI = 6.7; 12.4). CSTS incidence decreased among males over the period 1992-1999 (APC = -21.4, 95% CI -27.2; -15.1), particularly due to a decrease in Kaposi sarcoma incidence (AAPC 1992-2008 = -13.6, 95% CI = -22.4;-3.8), although with a notable racial disparity (whites, AAPC = -15.2, 95% CI = -23.2;-6.4; blacks, AAPC = -10.6, 95% CI = -13.2;-7.9).

CONCLUSIONS

Non-melanoma skin cancer is very rare in children and AYA. We have shown variation in time-trends in incidence as well as in incidence patterns by race, sex, age, and histologic type, highlighting the importance of descriptive epidemiology to better understand the characteristics of these malignancies.