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Patients with non-Hodgkin lymphoma had high recurrence of nonmelanoma skin cancer

Patients with non-Hodgkin lymphoma experienced high recurrence rates of basal cell carcinoma and squamous cell carcinoma following Mohs micrographic surgery, according to recent study results.

Jerry D. Brewer, MD, and colleagues used the Rochester Epidemiology Project research infrastructure to identify 717 patients diagnosed with non-Hodgkin lymphoma (NHL) between 1976 and 2005. The researchers calculated nonmelanoma skin cancer (NMSC) incidence and used Cox proportional hazard models to study associations with risk of NMSC recurrence in the patients.

Jerry D. Brewer

There were 282 patients with chronic lymphocytic leukemia (CLL) or small lymphocytic lymphoma and 435 patients with non-CLL NHL. Patients with CLL had an incidence of basal cell carcinoma (BCC) of 1,829.3 and squamous cell carcinoma (SCC) of 2,224.9. Patients with CLL who had Mohs micrographic surgery experienced a cumulative recurrence rate of 8.3% for BCC and 13.4% for SCC at 8 years after treatment, according to the researchers.

“After Mohs micrographic surgery and standard excision of NMSC, patients with NHL had a skin cancer recurrence rate that was higher than expected,” the researchers concluded. “Careful, prompt care; appropriate management; and frequent follow-up are necessary to decrease the chance of recurrence and the possibility of subsequent metastasis.”

Disclosure: The authors have no relevant financial disclosures.