Skin Cancers Associated with Genodermatoses in Patients with Skin of Color

In a study published in the Archives of Dermatological Research, there are diverse presentations of skin cancers linked to genodermatoses in patients with skin of color (SOC).

Researchers aimed to identify notable characteristics in location, frequency, and severity of cutaneous findings, along with the median age of skin cancers in patients with SOC and with skin-cancer-associated genodermatoses, to improve diagnosis rates. A comprehensive search across 6 databases was conducted, reviewing case reports and case series published in English that described adult patients. Duplicate manuscripts were removed using EndNote, and relevant case-level data were extracted, including age, gender, country or region of origin, author country/continent of residence, and key dermatologic features.

A total of 381 published articles, encompassing 578 patients with SOC, met the inclusion criteria. Findings indicate that patients with SOC often present with fewer classic symptoms. For example, patients with SOC and Gorlin syndrome have a lower incidence of basal cell carcinomas (44%) compared to palmar pits (66%) and mandibular cysts (66%). There are also differences between SOC populations, such as a higher prevalence of leukoplakia in Asian patients with dyskeratosis congenita (80%) compared to African patients (44%). The onset age of skin cancer in patients with SOC varies alongside the type of genodermatosis, ranging from a median age of 25 years in Rothmund-Thomson syndrome to 53 years in Muir-Torre syndrome.

This review highlights the diverse presentations of genodermatoses in patients with SOC. Awareness of these characteristics is crucial for early diagnosis and intervention, which can help reduce skin-cancer-related morbidity in patients with SOC. Understanding these variations can lead to more tailored and effective medical care for this population.

Reference
Fazelpour S, Deverapalli SC, Nguyen B. Skin cancer-associated genodermatoses in skin of color patients: a review. Arch Dermatol Res. Published online May 25, 2024. doi:10.1007/s00403-024-03087-w