Revista de Dermatología y Enfermedades Dermatológicas

Malignant Skin Tumors in Patients with Oculocutaneous Albinism

Abstract

Makiko Yasumizu, Chikako Nishigori, Masakazu Kawaguchi, Tomoya Takata, Naoki Oiso, Tamio Suzuki, Ayano Umekoji, Daisuke Tsuruta and Kazuyoshi Fukai

Background: Patients with oculocutaneous albinism (OCA) are prone to develop skin cancers.
Aim and Objectives: To analyze reports of skin cancers in albinos published in the English and the Japanese literature in order to prepare guidelines for the successful management of skin cancer in albinos. Methods and Materials: We searched on PubMed, Web of Knowledge for English literature, and Ichushi-Web for the Japanese literature.
Results: Between 1978 and 2013, 11 malignant melanoma, 4 basal cell carcinoma, and 6 squamous cell carcinoma cases were reported in Japan. The subtypes of the 11 malignant melanomas were nodular in 7 cases, superficial spreading in 3 cases, and metastatic lesions in 1 case. Amelanotic melanomas comprised 7 of the 11 malignant melanoma cases in Japanese patients with OCA. Twenty-five malignant melanoma, 50 basal cell carcinoma, and 151 squamous cell carcinoma cases were reported worldwide in the English literature during the period between 1952 and 2013.
Conclusion: Regular skin monitoring by board-certified dermatologists is required for adult OCA patients.