BACKGROUND: A worldwide increasing trend in the incidence of squamous cell carcinoma of the skin has been observed but there are no studies regarding the incidence of this cancer in the Southern region of the State of Santa Catarina. OBJECTIVES: To establish epidemiological data regarding squamous cell carcinoma of the skin in Tubarao (state of Santa Catarina). METHODS: Anatomopathological reports, positive for squamous cell carcinoma of the skin, found in laboratories of the city of Tubarao, were analyzed regarding year, age, gender, site, histological subtype, largest diameter, and biopsy margins. The annual incidence was calculated using the number of neoplasias found and the estimated population for the years 2000, 2003, and 2006. RESULTS: The incidence of squamous cell carcinoma of the skin per 100,000 habitants was 50.86 for the year 2000, 71.16 for 2003 and 94.39 for 2006. There was no gender dominance, the face was the most frequent location affected in both genders, and the most common histological subtype was well differentiated tumor. CONCLUSION: The detected incidence of squamous cell carcinoma of the skin surpassed the incidence estimated in the literature. There was a considerable increase in its incidence; the variables age and location agreed with information found in the literature but gender distribution differed.
Carcinoma, squamous cell; Carcinoma, squamous cell; Incidence; Skin neoplasms
