Incidence and trends of basal cell carcinoma in Sweden: a population-based registry study.

BCC incidence rates in Sweden are relatively high and increasing. The increasing trends were more pronounced in women and for aggressive BCC subtypes. What is already known about this topic? Basal cell carcinoma (BCC) is the most common skin cancer in white populations and its incidence is increasing. BCC is seldom registered in national population-based cancer registries, therefore incidence estimates are extrapolated from small studies or incomplete registers. BCC occurs more often in men than in women and occurs most commonly on the head and neck, followed by the trunk. What does this study add? This study provides current BCC incidence rates for an entire European population. Sex-specific trends show that BCC incidence is increasing faster in women in Sweden. Aggressive BCC subtypes appear to be increasing faster than other subtypes.