TUMORS IN ICELAND .1. MALIGNANT-TUMORS OF SKIN - HISTOLOGICAL CLASSIFICATION

Abstract

Primary malignant skin tumors [485] submitted for histological diagnosis in Iceland during 1955-1974 were typed according to the WHO histological classification. The incidence of these tumors, age-adjusted to the world population, was 12.6/100,000 in males and 11.0/100,000 in females. These are very low figures for a white population. The distribution by type among males was: basal cell carcinoma 66.8%, squamous cell carcinoma 22%, malignant melanoma 7.2% and others 4%. Among females the distribution was: basal cell carcinoma 66.9%, malignant melanoma 20.8%, squamous cell carcinoma 10.2% and others 2.1%. The exposed areas of the body were affected much more frequently than other areas. That intensity of solar radiation is of major etiological significance is supported.