Basal cell carcinoma in Qatar

Background. There is an increasing incidence of basal cell carcinoma (BCC) and skin cancer in general among various countries, where the sun is implicated as an important causative factor. Methods. Results of clinical and histopathologic examination and the incidence rate of sees were recorded over a period of 5 years at Hamad Medical Corporation, Doha, Qatar. Results. Basal cell carcinoma is the commonest skin cancer in Qatar. The average annual incidence per 100,000 residents of working manpower, standardized to the 1986 census, is 9.9 for both sexes and at all ages. Expatriates formed the highest proportion and of these. Europeans were predominant. The tumor was more frequent in men, on sun-exposed areas, was mostly of the nodular and infiltrative type, and occurred in the 3rd, 4th, and 5th decades. As a whole, persons with relatively heavily pigmented skin constituted 66.7\% of the patients. Conclusions. Intense sunlight exposure during outdoor work and leisure activities in Qatar puts residents at increased risk for nonmelanoma skin cancer, even in persons with relatively pigmented skin.