Skin cancer surveillance in renal transplant recipients: questionnaire survey of current UK practice.

The risk of non-melanoma skin cancer is increased after organ transplantation, with a prevalence and annual incidence for the United Kingdom reported at 16.5% and 7.1-10.6% respectively.[1 2] Non-melanoma skin cancer presents at an earlier age and spreads more rapidly in people who have received a transplant than in the general population, and it often occurs at more than one site. These factors result in substantial morbidity and a sevenfold increase in mortality from the disease, although absolute death rates are low.[3] The high incidence, rapid growth, and increased metastatic potential of non-melanoma skin cancer in transplant recipients justifies a surveillance programme.[1 3] We did a survey to establish current practice in skin cancer surveillance in UK centres managing renal transplant recipients.

Methods and results

We sent a questionnaire to 65 UK centres that follow up renal transplant recipients. The questionnaire asked whether they did skin cancer surveillance, which staff did the surveillance, and what the policy was for educating patients about the risk of skin cancer.

Sixty one centres (26 surgical and 35 nephrology centres) responded, collectively managing 16 264 renal …