Epidemiology and aetiology of basal cell carcinoma.

Basal cell carcinoma is the most common malignancy among caucasians worldwide. Accurate epidemiological data can be difficult to obtain, but does suggest that the overall incidence is increasing. Risk factors include skin type, prior skin cancers and immunosuppression. Research in free radical-mediated cellular injury and innate defence mechanisms, and ultraviolet radiation-induced genetic mutations have improved our understanding of the development of this disorder.