Histopathological study of perilesional skin in patients diagnosed with nonmelanoma skin cancer

Summary Background Epidemiological and clinical data suggest that actinic damage to the skin is an important predictor of skin carcinogenesis. Aim To investigate the association of squamous cell carcinoma (SCC) and basal cell carcinoma (BCC) with sun-damage alterations seen by histopathology. Method In the current prospective study, perilesional skin of SCC or BCC lesions was evaluated for presence of alterations associated with chronic photodamage. Presence of scarring, perineural/perivascular invasion, haemorrhage/haemorrhagic crust, ulceration/erosion and margin involvement were also assessed. Result Of 6038 included lesions, 4523 (74.9%) were BCCs and 1515 (25.1%) were SCCs. Presence of actinic damage was five times more frequent in SCC than in BCC (OR = 5.29, 95% CI 4.44–6.00, P